iji 

i 


;-'  i : :    ' ; :; 


LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Class 


THE  ALBION  SERIES 


and 


J.  W.  BRIGHT  AND  G.  L.  KITTREDGE 
GENERAL  EDITORS 


Ube  Hlbion  Series, 

This  series  will  comprise  the  most 
important  Anglo-Saxon  and  Middle 
English  poems  in  editions  designed  to 
meet  the  wants  of  both  the  scholar 
and  the  student.  Each  volume  will 
ordinarily  contain  a  single  poem, 
critically  edited,  and  provided  with 
an  introduction,  notes,  and  a  full 
glossary. 


THE 


SEVEN   SAGES   OF   ROME 


EDITED  FROM  THE  MANUSCRIPTS,  WITH 

INTRODUCTION,    NOTES, 

AND  GLOSSARY 


BY 


KILLIS    CAMPBELL 

ADJUNCT  PROFESSOR  OF  ENGLISH  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TEXAS 


GINN   &  COMPANY 

BOSTON  •  NEW  YORK  •  CHICAGO  •  LONDON 
1907 


ERAt 


COPYRIGHT,  1907 
BY   KILLIS   CAMPBELL 


ALL   RIGHTS    RESERVED 
77.1 


SEfte  gtftenaum  -gresg 

GINN   &   COMPANY  •  PRO- 
PRIETORS •  BOSTON  •  U.S.A. 


PREFACE 


No  less  than  nine  Middle  English  manuscripts  of  The  Seven  Sages  of 
Rome  have  survived  to  the  present  time.  Yet  only  two  of  these  manu- 
scripts have  until  now  been  published,  —  one  the  Auchinleck  (A),1  by 
Weber,2  in  1810;  the  other,  the  Cambridge  MS.  Dd.  I.  17  (D),  by 
Wright,3  in  1845.  The  need  for  a  new  edition  of  The  Seven  Sages, 
then,  is  obvious.  And  this  need  has  long  been  recognized.  It  is  now 
more  than  twenty  years  since  Professor  Kolbing  announced  that  he 
would  undertake  to  edit  the  entire  volume  of  Middle  English  manu- 
scripts of  the  poem ; 4  later  the  Early  English  Text  Society  announced 
an  edition  of  the  Cotton  MS.  (C)  —  the  basis  of  the  present  edition  — 
by  the  lamented  Dr.  Robert  Morris ;  and  still  more  recently  the  Scot- 
tish Text  Society  has  promised  an  edition  of  the  Asloan  MS.  (As)  by 
Professor  Varnhagen.  I  should  not  omit  to  say  also  that  the  Early 
English  Text  Society  has  for  several  years  advertised  as  in  preparation 
an  edition  of  C  by  Dr.  Squires,  and  that  it  is  now  seeking  an  editor 
for  the  whole  of  Balliol  MS.  354,  in  which  B  occurs.  My  purpose  to 
edit  the  Cotton  MS.  I  first  announced  in  1898,  in  my  dissertation, 
A  Study  of  the  Romance  of  The  Seven  Sages  with  Special  Reference  to 
the  Middle  English  Versions?  I  am  glad  now,  after  eight  years  of 
necessarily  intermittent  effort,  to  see  my  promise  made  good.  . 

1  The  following  abbreviations  and  symbols  have  been  used  for  the  Middle  Eng- 
lish manuscripts :  A  =  Auchinleck  MS. ;  Ar  =  MS.  Arundel  140 ;  As  =  the  Asloan 
MS.;  B  =  MS.  Balliol  354;  C  =  MS.  Cotton  Galba  E.  ix;  cr  =  the  lost  manu- 
script whence  C  and  R  were  derived;  D  =  Cambridge  University  MS.  Dd.  I.  17; 
E  =  MS.  Egerton   1995;   F  =  Cambridge   University  MS.  Ff.  II.  38;   R  =  MS. 
Rawlinson  Poet.  175;  x  =  the  lost  Middle  English  manuscript  whence  y  and  D 
were  derived ;  Y  =  the  group  of  manuscripts  (A,  Ar,  E,  B,  F,  C,  R)  derived  from  y ; 
y  =  the  lost  Middle  English  manuscript  whence  Y  was  derived.    For  a  fuller  list 
of  abbreviations  used  in  the  Introduction  and  Notes,  see  p.  148  of  this  volume. 

2  Metrical  Romances  of  the  Thirteenth,   Fourteenth,  and  Fifteenth    Centuries, 
Edinburgh,   1810,  III,  pp.  8-108.        3  Percy  Society  Publications,  XVI,  pp.  i  f. 

4  See  Englische  Studien,  1883,  VI,  p.  442.  5  P.  42. 


161568 


vi  PREFACE 

Since  the  printing  of  my  dissertation  I  have  come  to  learn  (through 
Professor  A.  S.  Napier *)  of  another  copy  of  the  same  redaction  as  that 
represented  by  C, — namely,  the  Bodleian  MS.  Rawlinson  Poet.  175  (R). 
The  discovery  of  R  naturally  enhanced  the  value  of  C.  At  the  same 
time  it  gave  rise  to  the  question  whether  it  would  not  be  wise  to  make 
R  rather  than  C  the  basis  of  my  edition,  for  the  handwriting  of  R  is  per- 
haps fifty  years  older  than  the  handwriting  of  C.  The  chief  considerations 
that  led  me  to  give  the  preference  to  C  are,  first,  that  R  is  incomplete, 
and,  secondly,  that  C,  though  transcribed  somewhat  later  than  R,  is 
nevertheless  quite  as  archaic  in  its  spelling  and,  besides,  represents  in 
several  minor  respects  a  more  accurate  transcription.  Still,  to  meet 
any  apprehensions  as  to  the  wisdom  of  my  choice  and  to  lend  greater 
thoroughness  to  my  undertaking,  I  have  given  in  footnotes  the  variants 
of  R  from  C. 

In  the  Introduction  I  have  attempted,  besides  considering  in  detail 
the  English  versions,  to  bring  together  in  compact  form  the  results  of 
modern  scholarly  investigation  of  the  Oriental  versions  of  The  Seven 
Sages,  to  restate  the  problem  of  the  transmission  of  the  story  to  West- 
ern Europe,  and  to  classify  anew  the  many  redactions  made  in  France, 
Italy,  Spain,  Germany,  Holland,  Scandinavia,  and  Russia.  In  this  part 
of  my  Introduction  I  have  done  little  more  than  reproduce  what  I  con- 
ceive to  be  the  most  approved  results  of  the  investigations  of  others. 

But  in  the  discussion  of  the  English  versions  I  have  had  to  rely 
almost  entirely  upon  myself.  My  monograph,  referred  to  above,  fur- 
nished much  of  the  material  for  this  section  and  a  point  of  departure 
for  the  rest.  The  chief  additions  are  the  fuller  treatment  of  the  later 
English 'versions  and  the  detailed  consideration  of  the  two  manuscripts 
(C  and  R)  represented  in  the  text. 

After  the  discussion  of  the  English  versions,  I  have  undertaken  a 
listing  of  the  variants  and  analogues  of  the  stories  contained  in  The 
Seven  Sages,, a.  task  that  I  was  both  eager  and  loath  to  enter  upon, — 
eager  because  of  the  fascination  that  such  work  affords  one  with  literary- 
historical  leanings,  and  loath  because  of  the  conviction  that  I  could  not 
make  such  a  list  by  any  means  exhaustive  in  the  time  at  my  disposal. 
The  task  was  undertaken,  however,  and  I  am  encouraged  to  hope  that 
it  has  not  been  in  vain ;  though  I  am  now,  more  than  ever,  convinced 

1  See  Publications  of  the  Modern  Language  Association  of  America,  1899,  XIV, 
pp.  459  f. 


PREFACE  vii 

that  my  list  must  be  far  from  complete.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  I 
have  set  the  Originals  and  Analogues  at  the  end  of  the  Introduction, 
so  that,  in  case  a  second  edition  of  this  volume  be  called  for,  the  list 
may  be  more  readily  supplemented.  For  any  information  as  to  addi- 
tions that  ought  to  be  made,  I  shall  be  most  gratefitl. 

In  the  editing  of  the  text,  the  reading  of  the  Cotton  MS.  has  been 
faithfully  adhered  to  except  in  the  following  particulars  :  some  twenty 
emendations  of  what  appear  to  be  scribal  errors  have  been  made  ;  marks 
of  punctuation  have  been  inserted,  the  lines  have  been  numbered,  and 
paragraphs  have  been  indented;  capitalization  has  been  normalized 
according  to  modern  standards ;  all  abbreviations  have  been  expanded  ; 
the  word  division  has  been  modernized ;  and  information  concerning 
the  foliation  of  the  manuscript  and  concerning  the  number  and  title  of 
each  story  has  been  inclosed  in  brackets  in  the  margins.  Emendations 
are  indicated  in  the  body  of  the  text  by  brackets,  the  reading  of  the 
manuscript  being  invariably  given  in  the  footnotes.  Abbreviated  letters 
or  words  are  italicized.  The  variations  from  C  exhibited  by  R,  which 
are  presented  in  the  footnotes,  have  not  been  edited,  but  are  given 
diplomatically  except  for  the  expansion  of  abbreviations. 

The  Notes  are  few.  By  taking  fuller  account  of  the  many  conven- 
tional phrases  and  by  entering  parallel  passages  from  other  romances, 
I  could  have  enlarged  this  section  considerably;  but  I  have  excused 
myself  from  this  labor  in  the  belief  that  it  must  have  involved,  in 
the  main,  a  repetition  of  what  has  been  done  by  Zupitza,  Kolbing, 
Schmirgel,  Mead,  and  others. 

The  Glossary  is  larger  than  I  should  have  wished  it.  It  is  not  meant 
to  be  exhaustive,  but,  except  for  a  few  verbs,  like  have  and  be,  whose 
inflection,  I  felt,  must  be  recorded,  includes  only  such  words  as,  in  my 
judgment,  might  not  be  easily  intelligible  to  the  average  reader  into 
whose  hands  the  book  will  fall. 

Throughout  my  labors  I  have  been  generously  aided  by  others.  My 
chief  indebtedness  is  to  the  General  Editors  of  the  "Albion  Series," 
Professors  Bright  and  Kittredge.  It  was  Professor  Bright  who  first 
aroused  in  me  a  liking  for  mediaeval  story ;  he  subsequently  aided  me 
most  substantially  in  the  preparation  and  the  printing  of  my  Study  of 
The  Seven  Sages ;  and  he  has  been  of  constant  service  to  me  in  the 
preparation  of  the  present  edition,  giving  me  freely  of  his  time  in  the 
reading  of  manuscript  and  proof  sheets,  and  aiding  me  all  along  by  his 


viii  PREFACE 

intelligent  sympathy.  To  Professor  Kittredge  also  my  indebtedness  is 
large ;  he  has  read  all  of  the  book  either  in  manuscript  or  in  proof, 
and  has  given  me  a  host  of  valuable  suggestions.  A  real  debt,  also,  I 
owe  to  Professor  Morgan  Callaway,  Jr.,  of  the  University  of  Texas,  who 
has  read  most  of  the  book  both  in  manuscript  and  in  proof,  and  who 
has  ever  been  ready  with  counsel  no  less  valuable  than  cheerfully  given. 
I  am  glad,  also,  to  acknowledge  certain  services  done  me  by  my  former 
esteemed  instructor,  Professor  William  Hand  Browne,  of  Johns  Hopkins 
University;  by  my  colleague,  Dr.  Reginald  Harvey  Griffith;  by  my 
former  pupil,  Mr.  Stanley  Royal  Ashby,  now  of  Merton  College,  Oxford ; 
and  by  the  Librarian  of  the  University  of  Texas,  Mr.  Phineas  Lawrence 
Windsor.  It  gives  me  pleasure,  too,  to  express  my  appreciation  of 
the  courtesies  shown  me  by  the  authorities  in  the  British  Museum,  in 
the  Bodleian  Library,  in  the  Library  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh, 
and  in  the  Peabody  Library  at  Baltimore.  -^  £ 

AUSTIN,  TEXAS 
September  i,  1906 


CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION :  PAGE 

A.  THE  EARLIER  HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVEN  SAGES xi 

i.  THE  ORIENTAL  VERSIONS .    .  xi 

ii.  TRANSMISSION  TO  WESTERN  EUROPE xv 

in.  EUROPEAN  VERSIONS  OTHER  THAN  ENGLISH xvii 

THE  DOLOPATHOS xviii 

THE  SEVEN  SAGES  OF  ROME xxi 

B.  THE  ENGLISH  VERSIONS xxxv 

i.  THE  MIDDLE  ENGLISH  VERSIONS xxxvi 

A  BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  MANUSCRIPTS      ....  xxxvi 

THE  INTERRELATION  OF  THE  MANUSCRIPTS xl 

AUTHORSHIP Ivii 

PLACE  AND  DATE  OF  COMPOSITION Iviii 

SOURCE lix 

ii.  LATER  ENGLISH  VERSIONS lx 

C.  THE  COTTON-RAWLINSON  REDACTION Ixvi 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  MANUSCRIPTS Ixvi 

RELATIONSHIP  OF  THE  Two  MANUSCRIPTS Ixxi 

DATE  OF  COMPOSITION Ixxii 

DIALECT Ixxiii 

METER Ixxvi 

SOME   ORIGINALS   AND  ANALOGUES Ixxviii 

TEXT i 

NOTES 147 

GLOSSARY t 187 

INDEX 207 


IX 


x 

f  OF  THE 

I    UNIVERSITY 


INTRODUCTION 

A.  THE  EARLIER  HISTORY  OF  THE  SEVEN  SAGES 
I.  THE  ORIENTAL  VERSIONS 

The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  belongs  to  the  goodly  company  of  stories 
which  had  their  origin  in  the  East.  The  parent  version  has  not  come 
down  to  us,  but  it  is  very  generally  believed  that  it  was  of  Indian  com- 
position.1 When' the  parent  version  was  made,  we  can  only  conjecture 
—  perhaps  about  the  fifth  century  B.C.  What  form  it  took  is  likewise 
uncertain.  The  story  underlying  the  framework  may  first  have  existed 
independently  of  the  stories  it  contains  in  the  form  in  which  we  first 
find  it ;  though,  even  in  that  case,  it  is  reasonably  certain  that  the 
stories  were  embodied  in  it  before  it  left  India. 

From  India  The  Seven  Sages  passed  to  Arabia,  where,  perhaps  about 
the  eighth  century  of  our  era,  it  assumed  —  in  the  hands  of  one  Musa 
—  the  form  preserved  more  or  less  faithfully  in  the  eight  Eastern  ver- 
sions that  have  survived.  This  early  Arabic  version,  however,  has  been 
lost.  Of  the  eight  surviving  versions  which  constitute  the  Eastern 
group,  one  is  in  Syriac,  one  in  Greek,  one  in  Hebrew,  one  in  Old 
Spanish,  one  in  Arabic,  and  three  are  in  Persian.  In  its  Eastern  form 
The  Seven  Sages  is  usually  known  as  the  Book  of  Sindibad. 

The  Book  of  Sindibad  tells  the  story  which  furnishes  the  background 
or  framework  of  The  Seven  Sages  very  much  as  does  the  Western  typi- 
cal version,  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome.  This  underlying  story  may  be 
briefly  summarized  as  follows :  A  young  prince  is  tempted  by  his 
stepmother,  the  queen.  She,  being  rebuffed  by  him,  accuses  him  of 
attempting  to  violate  her,  and  he  is  condemned  to  death.  His  life  is 
saved  by  seven  wise  men,  who  secure  a  stay  of  execution  of  the  royal 

1  Benfey  (Orient  und  Occident,  III,  pp.  177  f.)  proposed  an  ultimate  basis  in  the 
Indian  story  of  Kunala  and  A£oka,  and  this  theory  has  bee.n  accepted  by  Cassel 
(Mischle  Sindbad,  Berlin,  1888,  pp.  iof.,  61  f.). 

xi 


xii  INTRODUCTION 

decree  by  entertaining  the  king  through  seven  days  with  tales  showing 
the  wickedness  of  woman,  the  queen  meantime  recounting  stories  to 
offset  those  of  the  sages.  On  the  eighth  day  the  prince,  who  has 
remained  silent  up  to  that  time,  speaks  in  his  own  defense,  and  the 
queen  is  put  to  death. 

In  this  underlying  framework  the  Eastern  and  the  Western  type 
agree  in  broad  outline.  But  the  two  types  differ  radically  in  the  stories 
they  contain ;  they  have,  at  most,  only  four  stories  in  common.  Another 
important  difference  between  the  two  is  in  the  number  of  stories  in 
each  :  while  in  the  Western  versions  each  sage  tells  but  one  story  and 
there  are  accordingly  no  more  than  fifteen  stories  in  all,  usually  in  the 
Eastern  versions  each  of  the  sages  tells  two  stories  and  there  are  in 
consequence  at  least  a  third  more  stories  than  in  any  of  the  Western 
versions.  An  even  more  salient  difference  is  found  in  -that,  in  the  East, 
the  instruction  of  the  Prince  is  intrusted,  not  (as  in  the  Western  ver- 
sions x)  to  the  seven  sages,  but  to  one  man,  the  philosopher  Sindibad. 
This  Sindibad  is  the  central  figure  of  the  Eastern  versions ;  and  it  is 
for  this  reason  that  the  Eastern  form  of  The  Seven  Sages  has  been  called 
the  Book  of  Sindibad. 

The  name  Sindibad  very  probably  goes  back  to  India ;  for  it  appears 
in  all  four  of  the  earlier  and  most  authentic  Eastern  versions :  the 
Syriac  Sindban,  the  Greek  Syntipas,  the  Hebrew  Mischle  Sindbad, 
and  the  Persian  Sindibad-nameh. 

The  name  of  the  King  is,  in  the  Syriac  and  the  Greek,  Kurus ;  in 
the  Old  Spanish,  Alcos  (Al- Gurus  ? 2)  ;  in  the  Hebrew,  Pai  Pur  (or  per- 
haps Kai  Pur,  or  King  Porus 3) ;  other  versions  do  not  name  the  King. 
The  name  of  the  wicked  Queen,  as  normally  in  the  Western  versions, 
is  not  given.  Neither  is  the  name  of  the  Prince  given.  The  names  of 
the  sages  are  mentioned  in  only  one  Eastern  version,  the  Hebrew.4 

The  oldest  surviving  version  of  the  Eastern  group  is  the  Syriac  Sind- 
ban?  the  date  of  which  is  placed  by  Nb'ldeke 6  in  the  tenth  century. 

1  Except  the  Dolopatkos,  which,  as  will  be  shown  later,  is  unique  among 
Western  versions.  2  Cassel,  Mischle  Sindbad,  p.  212.  3  Cassel,  p.  61. 

4  These  names  are,  according  to  Cassel  (pp.  219  £.),  Sindibad,  Hippocrates,  Apu- 
leius,  Lucian,  Aristotle,  Pindar,  and  Homer. 

5  Edited  by  Baethgen,  Sindban,  oder  die  Sieben  Weisen  Meister,  Leipzig,  1879. 
See  also,  for  an  English  translation,  H.  Gollancz  in  Folk  Lore,  1897,  VIII,  pp.  99  f. ; 
and  for  a  French  translation,  F.  Macler,  C antes  Syriaques :  Histoire  de  Sindban> 
Paris,  1903.  6  Zeitschr.  d.  d.  morg.  Gesellschaft,  1867,  XXXIII,  pp.  513  f. 


THE  ORIENTAL  VERSIONS  xiii 

The  source  of  the  Sindban  appears  to  have  been  the  lost  eighth- 
century  Arabic  text  of  Musa.  The  text  of  the  Sindban  is  not  complete, 
but  most  of  it  remains.  A  derivate  from  this  version  is  the  Greek 
Syntipas. 

The  Greek  version,  Syntipas?  is  very  much  fuller  of  detail  and  more 
elaborate  in  style  than  its  original.  Its  author,  according  to  the  pro- 
logue, was  one  Michael  Andreopulus.  As  to  its  date  there  has  been 
difference  of  opinion ;  Comparetti  held  it  to  be  the  second  half  of  the 
eleventh  century,  others  place  it  later.2 

The  Old  Spanish  Libro  de  los  Engannos?  like  the  Syriac  Sindban, 
found  its  source  in  the  lost  Arabic  text  of  Musa.  Its  prologue  estab- 
lishes its  date  as  1253.  In  contents  and  order  of  stories  the  Old 
Spanish  version  is  naturally  nearest  to  the  Syriac  and  the  Greek  versions. 
It  seems  to  have  exerted  no  influence  whatever  on  The  Seven  Sages  in 
Europe. 

The  Hebrew  Mischle  Sindbad*  stands  somewhat  apart  from  the  other 
Eastern  versions.  It  contains  three  stories  which  are  not  found  in  any 
other  version ;  and  it  has  one  important  trait  possessed  by  no  other 
Eastern  version  in  that  it  gives  the  names  of  the  sages,  a  trait  which  it 
shares,  however,  with  the  Western  versions.  This  and  other  evidence, 
later  adduced  in  the  section  on  the  transmission  of  The  Seven  Sages  to 
the  West,5  seem  to  make  it  not  improbable  that  the  Western  group  found 
its  source  in  this  version.  As  to  the  date  of  the  Mischle  Sindbad 
scholars  are  by  no  means  agreed ;  Comparetti  would  place  it  in  the 
thirteenth  century,  but  Cassel,  Benfey,  and  all  the  earlier  scholars 
considered  it  as  more  ancient  than  the  Syntipas* 

1  Edited  first  by  Boissonade,  Syntipas •,  Paris,  1828 ;  later  by  Eberhard,  Fabulae 
Romanenses,  I,  Leipzig,  Teubner,  1872. 

2  Comparetti,  Book  of  Sindibdd  (a  translation,  by  H.  C.  Coote,  of  Comparetti's 
Ricerche  interno  al  Libro  di  Sindibdd,  Milan,  1869),  Folk  Lore  Society,  1882,  IX, 
p.  58  ;  Cassel,  Mischle  Sindbad,  pp.  368  f. 

3  First  published  by  Comparetti  in  his  Ricerche,  Milan,  1869;  later,  with  an 
English  translation,  in  the  English  edition  of  Comparetti's  book,  Book  of  Sindibdd, 
pp.  73~l64- 

4  Edited  as  follows:  by  Sengelmann,  with  a  German  translation,  Halle,  1842; 
by  Carmoly,  with  a  French  translation,  Paris,  1849;  an(^  by  Cassel,  with  a  Ger- 
man translation  and  abundant  notes,  Berlin,  1888. 

5  Pp.  xvi  f. 

6  Comparetti,  Book  of  Sindibdd,  pp.  64  f. ;  Cassel,  Mischle  Sindbad,  p.  310. 


xiv  INTRODUCTION 

The  Persian  versions  are  the  poem  Sindibad-nameh  (13 75)1  and  the 
prose  texts  of  Nachshebl  (about  i3oo)2  and  As-Sarnarquand!  (late 
twelfth  century).3  Of  these  by  far  the  most  important  is  the  Sindibad- 
nameh,  though  the  other  two  versions  possess  more  value  for  the  history 
of  our  story.  The  version  of  As-Samarquandi  is  the  source  of  both  the 
other  versions.  The  version  of  Nachshebl  forms  the  Eighth  Night  of  his 
text  of  the  Tutl-nameh?  This  version  contains  but  six  stories,  only  five 
of  which  are  to  be  found  in  any  of  the  remaining  Sindibad  collections. 

The  surviving  Arabic  version  is  that  usually  known  as  the  Seven 
Vezirs.  It  is  an  irregular  version  which  appears  with  considerable  vari- 
ation in  several  manuscripts  of  the  Arabian  Nights,  among  them  a 
Cairo  manuscript  (printed  at  Bulaq  in  1836,  known  as  the  "  Bulaq 
Text"),  a  Tunis  manuscript  (ed.  Habicht  and  Fleischer,  Breslau, 
1825-1843),  a  Calcutta  manuscript  (ed.  Macnaghten,  Calcutta,  1839- 
1842),  and  a  Bengal  manuscript  (epitomized  in  part  by  Jonathan 
Scott,  Tales,  Anecdotes  and  Letters,  Shrewsbury,  i8oo).5  Of  these  the 
text  preserved  in  the  Bulaq  manuscript  appears  to  be  the  fullest  and 
best.6  The  Seven  Vezirs  was  very  late  in  composition,  and  has  had  no 
influence  upon  other  versions  of  the  Book  of  Sindibad. 

Besides  the  eight  Oriental  versions  that  have  been  preserved,  there 
are  several  other  versions  that  are  known  to  have  existed  at  some  time 
in  the  Christian  era,  and  which  we  may  still  somewhat  confidently  hope 
to  see  brought  to  light.  Of  these  the  most  significant  is  the  Arabic 
version  by  Musa  (probably  of  the  eighth  century),  which  served  as  the 
immediate  source  of  the  Syriac  and  Old  Spanish  versions  and  probably 
also,  but  with  one  or  more  intermediate  stages,  of  all  the  other  Eastern 
versions  described  above.  Other  versions  to  which  there  are  references 

1  As  yet  not  edited.    An  abstract  based  on  an  earlier  abstract  made  by  F.  Fal- 
coner, Asiatic  Journal,  1841,  XXXV,  pp.  169  f.,  and  XXXVI,  pp.  99  f.,  is  given  by 
Clouston  in  his  Book  of  Sindibad,  privately  printed,  1884,  pp.  5-121. 

2  Edited  by  Brockhaus,  Nachshebls  Sieben  Weisen  Meister,  Leipzig,  1845;  tne 
same,  translated  into  Italian  by  E.  Teza,  is  printed  with  D'Ancona's  edition  of 
the  Sette  Savj,  Pisa,  1864,  pp.  xxxvii  f. 

8  See  Clouston,  Athenceum  for  September  12,  1891,  p.  355. 

4  For  certain  interesting  speculations  as  to  the  history  of  this  text,  see  Com- 
paretti,  Book  of  Sindibad,  pp.  37  f.,  and  Noldeke,  Zeitschr.  d.  d.  morg.  Gesellschaft, 
XXXIII,  pp.  52  if. 

5  Also  epitomized  by  Clouston,  Book  of  Sindibad,  pp.  117  f. 

6  See,  for  the  relationship  of  these  texts,  Clouston,  table  opposite  p.  17. 


TRANSMISSION    TO    WESTERN    EUROPE  xv 

in  Oriental  literature  are  a  Kifab-es-Sindbad,  mentioned  by  Masudi,1 
and  two  earlier  Persian  poems,  —  one  by  Aban  Lahiqi  (who  died 
about  8i5),2  the  other  by  Azraqi  (who  died  in  ii32).8 

Tables  showing  the  number  and  order  of  stories  in  the  Eastern 
versions  are  to  be  found  in  Comparetti's  Book  of  Sindibad,  p.  25  ; 
Landau's  Die  Quellen  des  Dekameron  (2d  ed.,  Stuttgart,  1884),  table 
opposite  p.  340;  and  B£dier's  Les  Fabliaux  (2d  ed.,  Paris,  1895), 
table  opposite  p.  136.  More  or  less  extensive  discussions  of  the  con- 
tent of  these  stories  and  their  analogues  are  given  by  H.  A.  Keller, 
Li  Romans  des  Sept  Sages,  Tubingen,  1836,  pp.  cxxxi  f. ;  Keller,  Dyocleti- 
anus  Leben,  Quedlinburg,  1841,  pp.  42  f . ;  Cassel,  Mischle  Sindbad, 
pp.  82  f. ;  and  Clouston,  Book  of  Sindibad,  pp.  217  f. 

II.  TRANSMISSION  TO   WESTERN   EUROPE 

Just  how  The  Seven  Sages  as  it  appeared  in  the  East  in  the  Book  of 
Sindibad  became  the  story  as  it  flourished  in  Western  Europe  is  a 
question  not  easy  to  answer.  The  problem  is  rendered  a  most  difficult 
one  by  the  circumstance  that  the  parent  Western  version  has  been 
lost.  Indeed,  our  only  knowledge  of  it  is  such  as  is  wholly  inferential 
in  nature.  The  date  of  this  parent  Western  version,  however,  cannot 
have  been  later  than  n5o.4 

As  we  have  seen,  there  is  a  wide  gap  between  the  Eastern  and 
the  Western  form  of  the  story;  there  is  in  the  Western  form  no 
mention  of  Sindibad,  the  sages  tell  only  one  story  each  instead  of  the. 
two  (or  more)  in  the  East,  and  just  four  of  the  original  stories  (canis? 
aper,  senescalcus,  and  avis')  reappear  in  the  Western  versions. 

1  In  his  Meadows  of  Gold,  Sprenger's  translation,  London,  1841,  p.  175. 

2  See  Clouston,  Book  of  Sindibad,  pp.  xxxvif. 

3  Clouston,  p.  xl. 

4  See  p.  xxi  below.    Gaston  Paris  (Deux  Redactions  des  Sept  Sages,  Paris,  1876, 
p.  i)  held  that  the  story  penetrated  into  Western  Europe  in  the  twelfth  century  or 
later;  but  this  opinion  can  scarcely  be  reconciled  with  his  placing  the  date  of  the 
Latin  Dolopathos  between   1207   and   1212   (Romania,  II,  p.  501),  still  less  with 
his  dating  the  Keller  metrical  version  (K)  about  1 1  55  (La  Lift.  fr.  an  moyen  age, 
2d  ed.,  Paris,  1890,  p.  247). 

5  The  Latin  names  first  given  the  stories  of  the  Western  group  by  Goedeke 
{Orient  ttnd  Occident,   1866,  III,  p.  423)   have  obtained  general  currency  in  the 
literature  on  The  Seven  Sages. 


xvi  INTRODUCTION 

Such  far-reaching  changes  establish  conclusively  that  the  parent 
Western  version  was  not  a  translation  from  any  Eastern  version.  They 
render  it  extremely  improbable,  too,  that  the  author  of  the  Western 
parent  version  had  in  his  hands  a  version  of  the  story  in  its  Eastern 
form ;  indeed,  they  seem  to  me  to  make  it  extremely  probable  that 
this  author  had  no  sort  of  first-hand  acquaintance  with  any  of  the 
Eastern  versions.  In  my  judgment,  they  demonstrate  beyond  any 
reasonable  doubt  that  the  W7estern  parent  version  grew  out  of  oral 
accounts. 

Which  one  of  the  Oriental  versions  was  the  ultimate  source  of  these 
oral  accounts  cannot  be  known  with  certainty.  Negatively  we  may  say 
that  this  version  cannot  have  been  any  of  the  surviving  Persian  versions, 
for  all  of  them  are  too  late.  For  a  similar  reason  it  may  be  asserted 
that  it  was  not  the  Old  Spanish  version.  Nor  can  it  have  been  the 
Arabic  Seven  Vezirs,  for,  aside  from  the  fact  that  this  version  is  very 
late,  it  contains  only  one  of  the  four  stories  which  reappear  in  the 
Western  type.  The  source  of  the  traditions  culminating  in  the  oldest 
Western  version  may,  then,  so  far  as  we  know,  have  been  the  Greek, 
or  the  Syriac,  or  the  Hebrew,  or  the  lost  Arabic  version  of  Musa,  or 
some  other  lost  version  of  which  nothing  is  known. 

On  the  theory  of  probabilities  the  case  would  seem  to  be  strongest 
for  the  Greek  version  as  the  ultimate  source  of  the  Western  group, 
and  Gaston  Paris1  and  others  have  assumed  this  to  be  the  case. 
But  most  students  of  the  problem  have /held  that  the  Hebrew  version' 
presents  the  strongest  claims  for  this  distinction,  and  internal  evidence 
does  seem  to  support  this  view.  The  Hebrew  version  exhibits  several 
minor  agreements  with  the  Western  form  of  The  Seven  Sages  which 
it  does  not  share  with  any  of  the  remaining  Oriental  versions. 
These  features  peculiar  to  the  Hebrew  Mischle  Sindbad  and  the 
Western  typical  version  are  the  following  :  (i)  the  sages  are  mentioned 
by  name ;  (2)  there  is  a  rivalry  between  the  sages  in  their  efforts  to 

1  Paris  goes  even  further:  he  posits  an  intermediate  literary  stage  between  the 
Eastern  and  Western  versions  ;  see  his  Lilt.  fr.  aii  moyen  age,  2d  ed.,  p.  82  :  "•  L'his- 
toire  des  Sept  Sages  .  .  .  traduit  en  persan,  puis  en  syriaque,  en  arabe  et  en  grec, 
il  re9ut  dans  1'empire  byzantin  une  forme  .toute  nouvelle,  qui  s'est  perdue,  mais 
qui  parait  avoir  passe  par  1' Italic  et  etre  la  source  des  diverses  versions  occiden- 
tales."  And  he  has  the  support  here  of  Professor  F.  M.  Warren  (Primer  of  French 
Literature,  Boston,  1889,  p.  35) 


THE   CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xvii 

secure,  each  for  himself,  the  task  of  instructing  the  Prince ;  (3)  the 
sages,  not  the  King's  counselors,  defend  the  Prince ;  (4)  in  the  story 
aper,  the  adventure  happens  not  to  an  ape  but  to  a  man;  (5)  in  the 
story  avis,  the  deception  is  practiced  on  the  bird  through  an  opening 
in  the  house-top ;  (6)  in  the  same  story  a  maid  figures  as  a  party  to 
the  deception  practiced  by  the  wife.1  Just  what  significance  may 
safely  be  attached  to  these  agreements  one  must  hesitate  to  say ;  they 
may  all  be  accidental ;  some  of  them,  as  for  instance  the  first,  the  third, 
and  the  fourth,  are  very  natural  variations.2  At  best,  they  do  no  more, 
I  think,  than  establish  a  slight  probability  in  favor  of  the  Hebrew 
version  as  the  Eastern  original  of  the  Western  group;  and  they  cer- 
tainly do  not  in  any  way  discredit  the  theory  of  oral  transmission  of 
the  story  westward. 

The  route  of  transmission  may  have  been  by  Byzantium  or  through 
North  Africa  and  Spain,  but  was  more  probably  through  Syria  and  the 
Holy  Land.  The  agent  of  this  transmission  was  very  probably  a 
Crusader,  to  whom  the  Book  of  Sindibad,  with  its  Buddhistic  flavor, 
may  be  imagined  to  have  made  a  strong  appeal.  The  time  of  trans- 
mission cannot  have  been  later  than  the  middle  of  the  twelfth  century, 
which,  as  said  above,3  must  be  made  the  superior  limit  for  the  dating 
of  the  first  Western  version. 


III.  EUROPEAN  VERSIONS  OTHER  THAN  ENGLISH 

The  Seven  Sages  has  had  in  Europe  a  much  larger  and  more  com- 
plicated history  than  it  had  in  the  Orient.  There  have  been  preserved, 
as  we  have  seen,  at  best  but  eight  different  versions  of  the  Book  of 
Sindibad,  whereas  there  are  at  least  forty  different  versions  of  The 
Seven  Sages  properly  so-called,  and  these,  if  we  are  to  believe  the 
bibliographers,  are  preserved  in  upwards  of  two  hundred  manuscripts 
and  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty  editions. 

1  Landau  (Quellen  des  .Dekameron,  2d  ed.,  p.  47)  first  set  forth  most  of  this 
evidence  in  support  of  the  Mischle  Sindbad  as  the  Eastern  source  of  the  Western 
group,  but  he  injured  his  cause  by  arguing  from  the  assumption  that  the  fourteenth- 
century  Historia  Septem  Sapientum  (H)  is  the  oldest  of  the  Western  versions. 

2  Or  may  they  be  traceable  to  an  influence  of  some  early  Western  version  on 
the  Hebrew  ? 

8  P.  xv. 


xviii  INTRODUCTION 

That  there  is  a  very  wide  difference  between  the  Eastern  and 
the  Western  type  has  already  been  shown.  And  in  explanation  of  this 
wide  difference  a  basis  has  been  assumed  for  the  Western  form  of  the 
story  in  oral  accounts.  Where  these  oral  accounts  first  took  literary 
form  has  not  been,  and  probably  never  will  be,  satisfactorily  deter- 
mined—  perhaps  in  Italy,  perhaps  in  France.  The  earliest  Western 
text  was  doubtless  written  either  in  French  or  in  Latin ;  but  in  which, 
also  remains,  as  yet,  entirely  conjectural. 

The  oldest  form,  apparently,  under  which  the  Western  type  has  sur- 
vived is  that  preserved  in  the  Dolopathos.  There  can  be  little  doubt, 
however,  that  the  more  widely  known  Sept  Sages  de  Rome,  of  which 
there  survive  many  manuscripts  dating  from  a  period  but  a  little  later 
than  that  of  the  earliest  version  of  the  Dolopathos,  preserves  more 
nearly  the  form  and  contents  of  the  Western  parent  version.1  And  it 
was  under  this  form  that  the  story  acquired  its  marvelous  popularity  in 
France,  whence  it  made  its  way  into  nearly  every  other  country  of 
Europe. 

The  Dolopathos.  —  The  Dolopathos  exists  in  two  versions,  the  Latin 
prose  text  of  Joannes  de  Alta  Silva2  and  the  Old  French  poem  by 
Herbert.8  Of  the  former  there  are  known,  besides  the  original  manu- 
script discovered  by  Oesterley,  three  late  copies  pointed  out  by  Mussafia,4 

1  Students  of  the  relationship  of  these  two  types  must  be  on  their  guard  against 
certain  errors  which  for  many  years  pervaded  the  entire  literature  on  the  subject. 
Early  scholars,  for  some  unknown  reason,  assumed  and  industriously  propagated 
the  heresy  that  the  late  Latin  version,  the  Historia  (H),  was  the  source  of  the 
poetical  Dolopathos  (and  other  Western  versions),  and  then,  by  a  necessary  infer- 
ence, that  the  Historia  was  composed  by  Joannes  de  Alta  Silva,  the  real  author 
of  the  Latin  Dolopathos.  See,  for  example,  Deslongchamps,  Essai  sur  les  Fables 
Indienms,  Paris,  1838,  p.  179. 

8  A  manuscript  of  which  was  first  discovered  by  Oesterley  in  1873,  and  Pub' 
lished  by  him  in  the  same  year :  Joannis  de  Alta  Silva  Dolopathos,  sive  de  Rege  et 
Septem  Sapientibus,  Strassburg.  See  reviews  by  Gaston  Paris  in  Romania,  II, 
pp.  481  f . ;  by  Studemund  in  Zeitschr.  f.  deutsches  Alterthum,  XVII,  pp.  415  f., 
and  XVIII,  pp.  221  f. ;  and  by  Kohler  \T\Jahrb.f.  rom.  u.  engl.  Lit.,  XIII,  pp.  328  f. 
Several  manuscripts  pointed  out  prior  to  this  by  Mussafia  (for  which  see  below), 
and  at  first  supposed  to  reproduce  faithfully  the  text  of  Joannes,  were  soon 
shown  to  be  corrupt  copies  made  in  the  fifteenth  century. 

3  Edited  by  Brunet  and  Montaiglon,  Li  Romans  de  Dolopathos,  Paris,  1856. 

*  Vienna  Academy,  Sitzungsb.,  PhiL-hist.  CL,  XL VIII,  pp.  246  f.,  and  LVII, 
PP-  37  f- 


THE  CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xix 

an  Innsbruck,1  and  a  British  Museum  manuscript.2  The  latter  is  pre- 
served, so  far  as  is  known,  in  but  three  manuscripts.3 

Joannes  de  Alta  Silva,  the  author  of  the  Latin  Dolopathos,  was  a 
Cistercian  monk  of  the  monastery  of  Haute  Seille.  His  work  bears  the 
title  Dolopathos,  sive  Opusculum  de  Rege  et  Septem  Sapientibus.  It  was 
dedicated  to  Bishop  Bertrand  of  Metz,  who  had  jurisdiction  over  the 
monastery  of  Haute  Seille  from  1 1 84  (when  it  was  transferred  from  the 
see  of  Toul  to  the  see  of  Metz)  to  1212  ;  and,  since  Joannes  would 
probably  dedicate  to  his  own  bishop  rather  than  to  one  at  the  head  of 
another  diocese,  it  has  been  argued  very  plausibly  that  the  work  was 
written  during  those  years.  Oesterley  4  would  make  the  date  1 1 84  or 
at  the  latest  1185.  Gaston  Paris  in  i8735  favored  a  dating  between 
1207  and  1 2 12,  but  in  1890  he  placed  the  date  at  the  end  of  the 
twelfth  century.6 

The  Old  French  poem  of  Herbert  was  made  from  the  Latin  prose 
text  of  Joannes  toward  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  of  the  thirteenth 
century:  according  to  Montaiglon,7  between  1223  and  1226;  accord- 
ing to  Gaston  Paris,8  before  1223. 

The  Dolopathos  agrees  with  the  Book  of  Sindibad  in  that  the  Prince 
has  only  one  instructor.9  For  this  reason  it  has  been  conjectured  that 
the  Dolopathos  was  founded  on  some  Oriental  original,  but  in  my 
judgment  the  variation  is  quite  natural.  Equally  valueless  for  estab- 
lishing a  near  kinship  with  the  Book  of  Sindibad  is  the  agreement 
which  the  Dolopathos  shows  with  the  Nachshebi  version  in  the  sup- 
pression of  the  Queen's  stories. 

1  Oesterley,  Dolopathos,  p.  viii. 

2  MS.  Addl.  18922,  fifteenth  century;  see  Ward,  Catalogue  of  Romances,  London, 
1893,  II,  pp.  228  f. 

3  See  Brunet  and  Montaiglon,  Dolopathos,  pp.  xviii  and  xxii  f.,  and  Gaston  Paris, 
Romania,  II,  p.  503.    A  leaf  of  an  early  fourteenth-century  manuscript  has  been 
lately  acquired  by  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale  —  Noui>.  Acq.fr.  934,  No.  6;  see 
P.  Meyer,  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  des  anc.  Textes  fr.,  1896,  pp.  71  f.    See  also  Haupt, 
Altd.  Blatter,  I,  pp.  119  f.,  for  a  German  translation  of  a  part  of  the  Dolopathos 
preserved  in  a  Leipzig  University  codex. 

*  Dolopathos,  p.  xi.  5  Romania,  II,  p.  501. 

6  La  Litt.fr.  au  moyen  age,  2d  ed.,  p.  109. 

7  Dolopathos,  p.  xix. 

8  Romania,  II,  p.  497. 

9  In  the  Eastern  versions,  always  Sindibad ;  in  the  Dolopathos,  VirgiL 


XX  INTRODUCTION 

For  the  Dolopathos  has  only  one  story  (cam's)  in  common  with  the 
Book  of  Sindibad,  while  with  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  it  has  no  less 
than  four  stories  in  common  (cam's,  gaza,  puteus,  and  inclusa),  only 
one  of  which  (cants),  it  will  be  observed,  appears  also  in  the  Oriental 
versions.  This  makes  it  reasonably  certain  that  Joannes  was  in  some 
way  acquainted  with  some  version  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome.  There 
can  be  only  one  alternative  supposition,  namely,  that  both  the  Dolo- 
pathos and  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  developed  independently  of  each 
other  and  almost  contemporaneously,  the  one  drawing  only  one  story 
(cants)  from  the  traditions  brought  from  the  East,  while  the  other  drew 
this  story  with  three  others  besides  (aper,  senescalcus,  avis),  —  with  the 
additional  coincidence  that  both  received,  as  the  result  of  like  influence 
and  environment,  three  stories  (gaza,  puteus,  and  inclusa)  which  were 
not  in  the  Eastern  framework.  That  such  was  the  case  is,  to  say  the 
least,  extremely  improbable. 

But  in  any  case  the  prose  Dolopathos  was  made  not  from  written 
but  from  oral  sources.  This  is  expressly  stated  by  Joannes  —  who  says 
he  wrote  "  non  ut  visa,  sed  ut  audita," — and  is  borne  out  by  the 
introduction  of  the  Lohengrin  story1  (which  takes  literary  form  here 
for  the  first  time),  as  well  as  by  the  striking  changes  made  both  in  the 
framework  and  in  the  stories. 

The  Herbert  version  is  very  long,  comprising  nearly  13,000  lines. 
Both  in  extent  and  in  style  it  stands  in  marked  contrast  with  the 
metrical  version  of  the  Sept  Sages  de  Rome  edited  by  Keller  (K), 
which,  with  nearly  twice  as  many  stories,  has  only  5060  lines.2  The 
Dolopathos  has  an  introduction  of  4800  lines  where  K  has  but  68 
lines.  In  metrical  form  the  two  agree ;  both  are  written  in  the  octo- 
syllabic couplet. 

The  King  in  the  Dolopathos  bears  the  name  Dolopathos,  and  rules 
over  the  island  of  Sicily.  The  Prince  is  called  Lucinius ;  his  mother, 
Auguste.  The  names  of  the  stepmother  and  the  sages  are  not  given. 
The  instruction  of  the  Prince  begins,  as  normally,  when  he  has  reached 
the  age  of  seven.  He  is  sent  to  Rome  and  put  under  the  care  of  the 

1  See  Todd,  La  Naissance  du  Chevalier  au  Cygne,  pp.  iii  f.,  in  Publications  of 
Mod.  Lang.  Assoc.  of  America,  1889,  IV;  see  also  Gaston  Paris's  review  of  this 
edition  in  Romania,  XIX,  pp.  314  f. 

2  See  Ehret,  Der  Verfasser  des  Romans  des  Sept  Sages  und  Herbert,  Heidelberg, 
1886. 


LTHE   CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xxi 

poet  Virgil,  whose  figure  is  supreme  throughout  the  story  and  gives  to 
it  one  of  its  strongest  claims  upon  our  interest.  The  sages,  who  are, 
because  of  Virgil's  prominence,  placed  somewhat  in  the  background, 
come  up  as  in  the  remaining  Western  versions,  one  each  day,  always 
just  in  time  to  save  the  Prince's  life.  The  Prince  relates  no  story  at 
all,  Virgil  telling  the  eighth  (and  last)  story.1 

The  order  of  stories  in  the  Dolopathos  is  cants,  gaza,  senes,  creditor, 
viduae  filius,  latronis  filius,  cygni  eques,  inclusa  -\-puteus. 

The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome.  —  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  unlike  the 
Dolopathos,  includes  a  very  large  number  of  versions.  Here  belong, 
besides  all  English  versions  (the  Middle  English  poems,  the  text  printed 
by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  with  its  prose  derivatives,  and  the  Holland  version), 
all  the  French  and  Latin  versions  save  the  Dolopathos,  the  numerous 
versions  in  Italian,  German,  and  Dutch,  together  with  many  manu- 
scripts and  editions,  representing  more  or  less  independent  traditions, 
in  Spanish,  Scandinavian,  Celtic,  Russian,  Polish,  Bohemian,  and  Bul- 
garian. The  Seven  Sages,  then,  is  to  be  found  either  in  manuscript  or 
in  print,  or  in  both,  in  nearly  every  language  of  Europe.  Nor  has  its 
vogue  been  confined  entirely  to  Europe,  for  it  has  been  published  at 
least  twice  in  America.2 

The  ultimate  Western  source  whence  all  these  sprang  has  not  come 
down  to  us.  The  date,  too,  of  this  parent  version  is  not  known,  but  in 
view  of  its  influence  on  the  Dolopathos  and  the  Marques  de  Rome  (a 
sequel  to  The  Seven  Sages,  written  early  in  the  thirteenth  century),  as 
also  in  the  light  of  the  comparatively  large  number  of  manuscripts  in 
prose  dating  from  the  first  half  of  the  thirteenth  century,  it  must  be 
placed  as  early  as  ii5o,3  and  it  may  fall  in  a  time  considerably  earlier. 
The  oldest  versions  preserved  are  in  French. 

The  normal  number  of  stories  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  proper  is 
fifteen  4 ;  of  which  the  Queen  relates  seven,  and  the  seven  sages  tell  one 

1  See  in  this  connection  Comparetti,  Vergil  in  the  Middle  Ages,  translated  by 
Benecke,  London,  1895,  pp.  234  f. 

2  In  chapbook  form  at  Boston  in  1794.  (The  Famotis  History  of  the  Seven  Wise 
Masters  of  Rome],  and  in  Lithuanian  (Istorija  Septynii£  Mokintojt£)  at  Plymouth, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1892. 

3  Certainly  so  if  Gaston  Paris's  dating  of  the  Keller  text,  "  about  1155,"  is  to 
be  accepted ;  see  the  discussion  of  K. 

4  See  the  comparative  table  of  stories  at  the  end  of  this  section. 


xxii  INTRODUCTION 

each,  the  Prince  closing  with  the  fifteenth.  The  scene  of  action  is 
prevailingly  Rome,  though  with  two  versions  —  K  and  D*  —  it  is  Con- 
stantinople. The  Emperor's  name  is,  in  most  versions,  Diocletian ; 
variants  are  Vespasian,  Marcomeris,  and  Pontianus.1  The  Prince  is  not 
named  in  the  earliest  versions,  but  in  later  versions  he  appears  variously 
as  Florentine,  Diocletian,  Stefano,  and  Erasto.2  The  sages  are  named 
Bancillas,  Ancilles  or  Anxilles,  Lentulus,  Malquidras  or  Malquidrac, 
Cato,  Jesse,  and  Maxencius  or  Merous.3 

The  interrelation  of  the  various  forms  under  which  The  Seven  Sages 
appears  has  been  the  subject  of  almost  continuous  investigation  for 
more  than  half  a  century.  The  first  serious  attempt  at  an  orderly 
classification  was  made  by  Goedeke  in  i866.4  Goedeke  was  followed 
two  years  later  by  Mussafia,5  in  a  study  which  possesses  much  merit 
and  which  contributed  not  a  little  toward  clearing  the  way  for  subse- 
quent investigation.  But  it  is  to  Gaston  Paris  above  all  that  credit  is 
due  for  bringing  order  out  of  chaos.  The  "Preface"  to  his  Deux 
Redactions 6  contains  the  most  significant  contribution  to  the  study  of 
The  Seven  Sages  that  has  yet  been  made.  It  need  hardly  be  added 
that  the  excellence  of  his  work  has  been  recognized  on  all  sides,  and 
that  his  conclusions  have,  with  one  or  two  exceptions  at  most,  been 
universally  adopted. 

Paris  classifies  under  eight  different  heads,  as  follows 7 : 

1.  S,  the  Scala  CV#  abridgment,  in  Latin.8 

2.  H,  the  immense  group  of  which  the  Latin  Historia  Septem 
Sapientum  is  the  type. 

3.  K,  the  Old  French  poem  published  by  Keller. 

4.  I,  the  "Versio  Italica." 

5 .  M,  the  anomalous  version  known  as  the  Male  Marrastre. 


1  See  K,  D*,  and  H,  respectively. 

2  See  the  Middle  English  versions,  H,  I,  and  Erasto. 

3  There  are  numerous  more  or  less  radical  variations  in  the  spelling  of  these 
names ;  and  there  are  with  a  few  of  the  later  versions  (see  the  names  in  H  and.  I) 
some  substitutions.  4  Orient  und  Occident,  III,  pp.  402  f. 

5  Vienna  Academy,  Sitzungsb.,  Phil.-hist.  Cl.,  LVII,  pp.  37  f. 

6  Soc.  des  anc.  Textes  fr.  for  1876. 

7  A  classification  made  on  the  basis  of  the  Latin,  French,  and  Italian  versions 
only,  but  which  answers  quite  as  well  for  all  other  European  versions. 

8  See,  for  bibliographical  data,  the  discussion  of  these  types  given  below. 


THE   CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xxiii 

6.  D*,1  the  "Version  De'rime'e,"  the  first  of  the  Deux  Redac- 
tions edited  by  Gaston  Paris. 

7.  L,  the  group  of  French  manuscripts  of  which  the  first  Leroux 
de  Lincy  text  is  the  type. 

8.  A*,1  the  large  group  typified  by  the  Italian  prose  text  pub- 
lished by  A.  d'Ancona. 

i.  S  comprises  only  one  version,  found  in  manuscript  in  the  Scala 
Cell  (a  compilation  of  the  early  fourteenth  century  made  by  Joannes 
Junior  [or  Parvus]2)  and  in  a  Vienna  codex  entitled  Summa  Recreatorum 
(fifteenth  century).8  Both  manuscripts  are  in  Latin  prose.  The  text 
of  the  Scala  Cell  was  published  at  Liibeck  in  1476,  at  Ulm  in  1480, 
at  Strassburg  in  1483,  at  Louvain  in  1485,  and  at  Seville  in  1496 ;  and 
was  reprinted  by  Goedeke  in  i866.4  It  is  also  to  be  found  in  a  Spanish 
translation  made  by  Diego  de  Canizares  in  the  fifteenth  century.  An 
edition  of  this  text  from  a  Madrid  manuscript  has  been  recently  made 
by  A.  Paz  y  Melia  (Madrid,  1892). 

5  is  an  abridgment  of  a  lost  Liber  de  Septem  Sapientibus.    Its  most 
salient  peculiarity  is  its  brevity.    This  results  from  an  industrious  prun- 
ing of  unessential  details,  especially  in  the  transitions  from  story  to 
story.    The  stories  themselves  are  much  compressed,  but  are  not  sub- 
stantially altered.    The  names  of  the  sages  and  the  Prince  are  omitted, 
but  the  name  of  the  Emperor  —  Diocletian  —  remains. 

Another  significant  feature  of  S  is  the  substitution  of  the  stories  filia 
and  noverca  for  Roma  and  inclusa,  a  feature  which  appears  elsewhere 
only  in  L.5 

As  to  the  date  of  the  lost  Liber  de  Septem  Sapientibus  upon  which  S 
was  based,  nothing  is  known  with  certainty,  but  it  must  be  not  later 
than  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century.6  As  to  its  source,  similar 

1  D*  and  A*  are  starred  in  order  to  prevent  confusion  with  the  Middle  English 
manuscripts  D  and  A. 

2  See  Crane,  Exempla  of  Jacques  de  Vitry,  London,  1890,  pp.  Ixxxvi  f. 

3  Pointed  out  by  Mussafia,  and  described  by  him,  in  Vienna  Academy,  Sitzungsb., 
Phil.-hist.  CL,  LVII,  pp.  83  f.    It  differs  slightly  from  the  Goedeke  text. 

4  Orient  und  Occident,  III,  pp.  402-421. 

6  See,  for  the  order  of  stories  in  S  and  in  other  versions,  the  table  at  the  end 
of  this  section. 

6  If  we  are  to  believe  Gaston  Paris's  theory  of  a  basis  in  L,  it  must  be  dated 
considerably  earlier  than  this. 


xxiv  INTRODUCTION 

uncertainty  prevails.  Its  nearest  relationship  is  with  L,  with  which  it 
shares,  as  just  noted,  the  filia-noverca  feature.  But  it  is  not  probable 
that  S  was  based  on  L ;  the  more  probable  view  is  that  L  was  influenced 
by  S. 

2.  H.  The  prevailing  type  of  this  group  is  the  Latin  prose  Historia 
Septem  Sapientum  Romae,  for  a  long  time  supposed  to  be  the  source 
of  all  other  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome.  Variants  of  the 
Historia  type  are  the  Historia  Calumniae  Novercalis  and  Pontianus  : 
Dicta  aut  Facta  Septem  Sapientum. 

The  oldest  manuscripts  of  the  Historia  proper  are  in  Latin  prose. 
From  the  Latin,  H  has  been  translated  into  English,  French,  Spanish, 
German,  Dutch,  Danish,  Swedish,  Icelandic,  Armenian,  and  several  of 
the  Slavonic  languages. 

Of  Latin  manuscripts  of  the  Historia  no  less  than  twenty-eight  have 
been  pointed  out * ;  and  at  least  thirteen  fifteenth-century  editions  of 
the  Latin  text  have  been  preserved.2  The  oldest  text  in  manuscript  is 
that  found  in  an  Innsbruck  codex  dating  from  the  year  1342.  This 
was  published  by  G.  Buchner  in  iSSg.B  The  Historia,  more  or  less 
altered,  is  also  to  be  found  in  a  great  many  manuscripts  of  the  Gesta 
Romanorum.  Oesterley4  describes  at  least  thirty-five  manuscripts  in 
which  all  or  a  part  of  The  Seven  Sages  appears.  The  oldest  edition  of 
the  Historia  appears  to  be  that  published  at  Cologne  in  1475  by  Johann 
Veldener. 

It  was  probably  from  the  Latin  Historia  that  the  English  translation 
printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  was  made.  And  it  was  from  the  Wynkyn 
de  Worde  edition  that  the  metrical  version  by  Rolland,  the  Copland 
edition,  and  the  various  later  English  versions  were  derived. 

Of  the  French  translation  of  the  Historia  at  least  eight  early  editions 
have  survived.  The  oldest  of  them,  printed  at  Geneva  in  1492,  was 
reprinted  by  Gaston  Paris  in  i876.5 

1  See  H.  Fischer,  Beitrdge  zur  Litteratur  der  Sieben  weisen  Meister,  Greifswald, 
1902,  pp.  5f. ;  and  G.  Buchner,  Herrig's  Archiv,  1904,  CXIII,  pp.  297  f. 

2  See  G.  Buchner,  Erlanger  Beitrdge,  1889,  V,  pp.  3  f . ;   A.  J.  Botermans,  Die 
hystorie  van  die  seven  wijse  mannen  van  romen,  Haarlem,   1898,  pp.  31  f. ;  and 
Buchner,  Herrig's  Archiv,  1904,  CXIII,  p.  301. 

3  Erlanger  Beitrdge,  V,  pp.  7-90. 

4  Gesta  fiomanorum,  Berlin,  1872,  pp.  14,  22,  27,  36,  45,  51,  55,  66,  81,  85,  89,  94, 
100,  101,  in,  112,  119,  120,  121,  130,  132,  134,  144,  146  (two  manuscripts),   147, 
162,  168,  174,  175,  181,  182,  185,  189,  194.         6  Deux  Redactions,  pp.  55-205. 


THE   CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xxv 

In  Spain  the  Historia  has  never  secured  a  very  firm  foothold  ;  though 
a  Spanish  translation,  printed  at  Burgos  in  1530,  has  passed  through  six 
editions.1 

In  Germany,  however,  the  Historia  has  been  even  more  popular 
than  in  France ;  indeed,  H  seems  to  have  been  the  only  version  which 
found  acceptance  in  Germany.  J.  Schmitz,  in  his  dissertation,  Die 
altesten  Fassungen  des  deutschen  Romans  von  den  sieben  weisen  Meis- 
tern,  Greifswald,  1904,  pp.  i  f.,  describes  twelve  manuscripts  of  the 
German  translation  of  H;  and  H.  Fischer,  in  his  dissertation,  Beitrage 
zur  Litteratur  der  sieben  weisen  Meister,  pp.  i  f.,  tells  of  seventy-two 
different  editions  of  this  translation.  Moreover,  there  are  in  German 
several  metrical  versions  derived  from  H :  that  of  Hans  von  Biihel, 
entitled  Dyocletianus  Leben?  the  date  of  which  —  1412  — is,  happily, 
incorporated  into  the  text  (11.  9479-9480)  ;  an  anonymous  poem  3  prob- 
ably later  than,4  and  influenced  by,  the  Hans  von  Biihel  version ;  and 
a  tragedy  written  in  1560  by  Sebastian  Wildt.  —  In  the  German  group 
also  belongs  the  Latin  Ludus  Septem  Sapientum,  a  much  botched 
translation  of  the  German  prose  text,  printed  by  Paulus  Reffeler  at 
Frankfurt  about  1560. 

The  Dutch  translation  of  the  Historia  is  preserved  in  some  fifteen 
or  more  editions,5  the  oldest  of  which  appeared  in  1479. 

The  Danish  translation  has  been  printed  at  least  four  times,6  the 
oldest  edition,  according  to  Nyerup,  being  that  of  1673. 

In  Swedish  the  Historia  has  appeared  in  two  different  versions  :  one 
an  abridgment  found  in  a  Copenhagen  manuscript  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  published  in  1888-1889  by  G.  E.  Klemming7;  the  other  a 
very  full  version  published  by  P.  O.  Backstrom  in  i845.8 

1  See  A.  Paz  y  Melia,  Libra  de  los  Siete  Sabios,  Madrid,  1892,  p.  vi. 

2  Edited  by  H.  A.  Keller,  Dyocletianus  Leben,  Quedlinburg  and  Leipzig,  1841. 
See,  for  a  study  of  Hans  von  Biihel,  F.  Seelig,  Der  classische  Dichter  Hans  von 
Biihel,  Strassburg,  1887. 

3  Edited  by  Keller,  Altdeutsche  Gedichte,  Tubingen,  1846,  pp.  15  f.    For  a  study 
of  this  poem,  see  P.  Paschke,   Uber  das  anonyme  mhd.  Gedicht  von  den  Sieben 
Weisen  Meistern,  Breslau,  1891. 

4  So  Paschke  (p.  44),  who  sets  its  date  at  1476 ;  but  Schmitz  (p.  120)  holds  that 
it  is  more  than  a  hundred  years  older. 

5  See  the  dissertation  of  Botermans,  pp.  36  f.  and  69  f. 

6  See  R.  Nyerup,  Almindelig  Morskabslasnning,  Copenhagen,  1816,  p.  152. 

7  Samlingar  af  Svenska  Fornskrift-Sallskapet,  XCVI,  pp.  221-240,  and  XCVII, 
pp.  241-245.  8  Svenska  Folksbb'cker,  Stockholm,  I,  pp.  8-75. 


xxvi  INTRODUCTION 

An  Icelandic  version  in  manuscript,  mentioned  by  Nyerup  (p.  152), 
has  apparently  not  been  published. 

H  in  the  Slavonic  languages  has  been  the  subject  of  two  interesting 
articles  by  Murko.1  According  to  Murko  the  Historia  has  been  trans- 
lated into  Bohemian,  into  Polish,  and  into  Russian,  and,  in  its  variant 
form  Pontianus,  also  into  Hungarian.  The  Bohemian  translation  is 
preserved  in  a  manuscript  of  the  second  half  of  the  fourteenth  century, 
and  also  in  seven  editions.2  A  derivate  from  the  Bohemian  translation 
is  a  Bohemian  comedy  made  in  1558.®  The  Polish  translation  has 
passed  through  eight  editions.4  Of  the  Russian  translation  there  are, 
according  to  Murko,  forty  manuscripts  belonging  to  the  seventeenth 
and  eighteenth  centuries.5  These  all  go  back  to  the  Polish  version.6 
A  modern  Russian  edition,  printed  at  Moscow  in  1847,  is  a  translation 
from  the  Armenian.7 

The  Armenian  version  is  found  in  an  Ispahan  manuscript  of  1687, 
of  which  three  editions  have  been  made  (in  1696,  1720,  and  i74o).8 

The  Pontianus  and  the  Historia  Calumniae  Novercalis,  the  two 
Latin  prose  derivates  from  the  Historia,  differ  but  slightly  from  the 
Historia  proper.  The  variations  exhibited  by  the  former  are  only 
textual  apparently,  and  are  insignificant.  The  latter  differs  from  the 
Historia  mainly  in  the  suppression  of  all  Christian  features  and  in 
the  occasional  substitution  of  new  names  for  those  usually  found.  The 
Pontianus  is  preserved  in  two  editions  (Strassburg,  1512,  and  Vienna, 
1826),  and  in  a  Hungarian  translation  printed  at  Vienna  in  1573  and 
later  edited  by  H.  Gusztav  (Budapest,  1898).  Of  the  Calumnia  there 
have  been  three  editions,  all  printed  at  Antwerp  (1489,  1490,  1496). 

The  chief  distinguishing  features  of  H,  aside  from  its  peculiar  order 
of  stories,  are  the  introduction  of  amatores  and  amid  (the  latter 
appended  to  vaticiniuni),  the  fusing  of  senescalcus  and  Roma,  and  the 
unique  fullness  of  detail.  The  extravagant  fondness  of  H  for  pointing 
the  moral  also  calls  for  mention.9 

1  In  Vienna  Academy,  Sitzungsb.,  Phil.-hist.  Cl.,  1890,  CXII,  Abhandlungx,  and 
Zeitschr.f.  vergl.  Litter aturgesch.,  1892,  N.F.,  V,  pp.  1-34. 

2  Murko,  Vienna  Academy,  pp.  12  f.  and  27  f. 

8  P.  27.  4  Pp.  70  f.  5P.  88.  6  P.  103.  7  P.  92. 

8  See  P.  Lerch,  Orient  und  Occident,  II,  pp.  369  f .,  and  Murko,  Zeitschr.f.  vergl. 
Litteraturgesch.,  N.F.,  V,  p.  27. 

9  For  still  other  features  peculiar  to  H,  see  G.  Paris,  Deux  Redactions,  pp.  xxxiv  f . 


THE  CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xxvii 

The  Emperor  in  H  is  called  Poncianus  rather  than  Diocletianus,  under 
the  influence  perhaps,  as  Paris  has  suggested,1  of  the  Gesta  Romanorum; 
for  the  author  of  H  apparently  wished  to  begin  with  the  same  formula 
as  that  so  common  in  the  Gesta,  but  found  there  already  a  story  begin- 
ning "  Dioclecianus  regnavit,"  2  and  accordingly  substituted  Poncianus 
for  Dioclecianus.  H  also  makes  some  changes  in  the  names  of  the 
sages,  displaying  a  preference  for  the  spelling  Craton  for  Cato,  and 
substituting  Josephus,  Cleophas,  and  Joachim  for  Jesse,  Ancilles,  and 
Maxencius. 

The  date  of  composition  of  H,  traditionally  assumed  to  be  very 
early,  G.  Paris  showed 8  to  be  the  first  half  of  the  fourteenth  century  — 
probably  about  1330.    Its  source  Paris  proved  4  to  be  some  manuscript 
belonging  to  A*. 

3.  K,  the  Old  French  metrical  version  published  by  Keller,5  is  per- 
haps the  most  precious  of  all  French  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages 
proper.  It  has  come  down  to  us  in  only  one  manuscript  (Bib.  Nat.  fr. 
1553),  which  was  written  in  the  late  thirteenth  century.  But  the 
actual  composition  of  the  poem  must  date  from  a  period  considerably 
earlier  —  according  to  Gaston  Paris6  about  1155. 

The  King  in  K  is'Vespasian,  who  is  represented  as  being  the  son  of 
Methusaleh.  \The  first  wife  of  Vespasian  is  a  daughter  of  the  Duke  of 
Carthage.  The  name  of  the  Prince  is  not  given.  Soon  after  the  death 
of  the  first  Queen  the  scene  of  the  story  is  changed  to  Constantinople. 
But  it  is  not  long  before  the  Prince  returns  to  Rome,  where  he  is 
instructed  by  the  sages,  as  in  other  versions. 

K  has  the  same  stories  as  D*  and  A*,  but  in  a  different  order.  The 
agreement,  both  in  order  of  stories  and  in  contents,  is,  as  a  rule, 
closest  with  D*.  In  the  stories  vidua,  Roma,  inclusa,  and  vaticinium, 
however,  K  exhibits  a  very  close,  at  times  even  verbal,  agreement  also 
with  A*.  Gaston  Paris  accounted  for  this  by  assuming  for  A*  and  K  a 
common  source  (likewise  the  source  of  D*),  which  he  designated  as  V.7 

Another  Old  French  metrical  version,  closely  related  to  K,  is  to  be 
found  in  a'  late  thirteenth-century  manuscript  belonging  to  the  Library 

1  P.  xxxix,  note  i.  2  See  Oesterley,  Gesta  Romanorum,  p.  426. 

3  Deux  Redactions,  p.  xxxix.  4  Pp.  xxxi  f. 

6  Li  Romans  des  Sept  Sages,  Tubingen,  1836. 

6  Litt.fr.  au  moyen  age,  2d  ed.,  p.  247. 

7  See  his  Detix  Redactions,  pp.  xviii  f. 


xxviii  INTRODUCTION 

of  Chartres.1  The  text  of  this  version  is  incomplete,  beginning  with  the 
end  of  tentamina.  The  order  of  stories  from  this  point  on  —  Roma, 
avis,  sapientes,  vidua,  Virgilius,  inclusa,  vatidnium  —  is  unique,  but  is 
nearest  to  that  of  K.  Apparently  its  textual  variations  from  K,  though 
numerous,  are  not  of  any  very  great  significance. 

4.  I.  The  "  Versio  Italica  "  was  first  so  styled  by  Mussafia  in  his  study 
of  the  Italian  recensions  of  The  Seven  Sages?  This  group  comprises 
six  different  versions:  (i)  //  Libra  dei  Sette  Savi  (preserved  in  a 
Modena  manuscript  of  the  fourteenth  century;  published  by  Cappelli, 
in  Scelta  di  Curiosita  Litterarie,  Bologna,  1865,  LXIV)  ;  (2)  Storia 
d'una  Crudele  Matrigna  (fifteenth  century;  published  by  G.  Delia 
Lucia,  Venice,  1832;  by  Romagnoli,  Scelta,  etc.,  1862,  XIV;  and  by 
Roediger,  Firenze,  1883);  (3)  Storia  di  Stefano,  a  fifteenth-century 
poem  in  ottava  rima  (about  6000  lines ;  described  by  Pio  Rajna  in 
Romania,  VII,  pp.  22  f.,  369  f.,  and  X,  pp.  i  f.,  and  published  by  him  in 
Scelta,etc.,  1880,  CLXXVI);  (4)  a  Latin  "Versio  Italica"  (preserved 
in  a  Vienna,  a  Lemberg,  a  Munich,3  and  a  British  Museum 4  manuscript, 
all  of  the  fifteenth  century ;  published  by  Mussafia,  Vienna  Academy, 
Sitztmgsb.,  Phil.-hist.  CL,  1868,  LVII,  pp.  94-118);  (5)  DAmabiledi 
Continentia  (fifteenth  century;  edited  by  Cesari,  Bologna,  1896);  and 
(6)  a  very  popular  late  version  entitled  Eras  to  (variously  translated 
and  published,  as  explained  below). 

This  group  is  held  together  by  the  very  peculiar  order  of  its  stories : 
the  sages  in  I  lead  off  with  the  story-telling,  the  first  sage's  story,  canis, 
taking  first  place  in  the  list,  the  Queen's  first  story,  arbor,  taking  second 
place;  and  so  on  through  to  the  end.  A  happy  consequence  of  this 
reversal  of  order  is  the  crowding  out  of  the  story  senescalcus. 

I  falls  into  two  subgroups :  one  comprising  the  first  four  versions  in 
the  list  given  above;  the  other  the  last  two  —  the  Amabile  and  the 
Erasto. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  the  first  subgroup 5  is  the  naming  the  Prince 
Stefano.  The  Emperor  and  the  Empress  are  not  mentioned  here  by 

1  See  P.  Meyer,  Bulletin  de  la  Soc.  des  anc.  Textes  fr.  for  1894,  p.  41. 

2  Jahrb.f.  rom.  u.  engl.  Litt.,  1862,  IV,  pp.  i66f. 

3  See  Fischer,  Beitr*  zur  Litt.  der  Sieben  weisen  Meister,  pp.  6  and  122  f. 

4  See  Ward,  Catalogue  of  Romances,  II,  p.  206. 

5  With  the  exception  of  the  Latin  version  (4),  which,  like  S,  shows  a  tendency 
to  suppress  all  names. 


THE  CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xxix 

name,  and  so  likewise  with  the  sages  except  in  the  metrical  version  (3), 
where  they  are  known  as  Eleuzies,  Ansiles,  Lentulis,  Machiladas,  Cha- 
tone,  Epsse,  and  Charaus.  The  first  two  versions  of  this  group  —  those 
edited  by  Cappelli  and  by  Delia  Lucia  and  Roediger  —  do  not  differ 
substantially  from  each  other.  The  Latin  version  (4)  was  probably 
based  on  some  Italian  version  belonging  to  the  group,  but  is  not  a 
close  translation  of  any  one  of  them.  Its  author  must  have  been  an 
Italian.1  The  poetical  version  (3)  is  the  most  independent  of  the  four 
versions  comprised  in  the  first  subgroup. 

The  Amabile  and  the  Erasto,  which  compose  the  second  subgroup, 
are  in  contents  very  similar.  In  both  the  Prince  is  called  Erasto,  and 
the  wicked  Queen,  Aphrodisia.  The  sages  are  known  as  Euprosigorus, 
Dimurgus,  Thermus,  Enoscopus,  Philantropus,  Agathus,  and  Leucus 
(with  variants).  Both  agree  in  making  many  additions  to  the  original, 
the  chief  of  which  is  the  inserting  of  several  new  stories  just  before 
the  last  story,  vaticinium. 

But  the  Amabile  has  not  enjoyed  the  popularity  accorded  the  Erasto. 
The  Amabile  survives  in  only  one  manuscript  (that  edited  by  Cesari, 
as  above),  while  the  Erasto  has  had  a  vogue  second  only  to  that  of  H 
and  A*.  In  Italian  it  has  passed  through  at  least  thirty-five  editions 2 
(one  of  them  a  poem  by  Maria  Teluccini,  Pesaro,  1566),  and  it  has 
also  been  translated  into  French,  Spanish,  and  English.  The  first 
French  edition  recorded  is  that  printed  at  Lyons  in  1564.  Cesari 
(p.  cxxi)  catalogues  nine  other  editions  in  French.  There  appears  to 
have  been  but  one  edition  of  the  Spanish  translation  (Amberes,  1573). 
The  English  translation  was  made  from  some  French  text  by  Francis 
Kirkman  (The  History  of  Prince  Erastus,  London,  1674;  also  London, 
1684). 

The  parent  version  of  I  was  probably  not  earlier  than  the  fourteenth 
century.  The  source  of  this  parent  version  must  have  been  some  manu- 
script of  A*.8 

5.  M,  the  Male  [or  Fausse\  Marrastre,  is  even  more  anomalous 
than  is  the  "Versio  Italica."  The  Prince  in  M  is  called  Phiseus, 
and  Marcus,  son  of  the  sage  Cato,  figures  prominently;  but  what 

1  See  Mussafia,  Vienna  Academy,  Sitzungsb.,  LVII,  p.  93. 

2  Cesari,  Amabile,  pp.  cxxi  f.,  enumerates  thirty-eight  editions,  all  except  three 
of  which  belong  either  to  the  sixteenth  or  to  the  seventeenth  century. 

3  Cesari,  pp.  cxxxiv  £.,  and  Rajna,  Romania,  VII,  pp.  369  f. 


XXX  INTRODUCTION 

distinguishes  M  sharply  from  other  versions  is  its  substitution  of  six 
new  stories  (designated  by  Gaston  Paris,  I.e.,  p.  xxv,  z&filius,  nutrix, 
Antenor,  spurius,  Cardamum,  and  assassinus)  for  puteus,  senescalcus, 
tentamina,  Virgilius,  sapientes,  and  Roma.  The  source  of  M  Paris 
believed  to  be  some  much  mutilated  text  of  A*.1  The  new  stories, 
which  are  distinctly  inferior  to  those  they  displace,  were  probably, 
with  one  exception,  the  invention  of  the  author.  Only  three  complete 
manuscripts  and  a  fragment  (Berne  41)  of  M  are  known,  all  of  which 
belong  either  to  the  fourteenth  or  to  the  fifteenth  century.  There  is 
as  yet  no  edition  of  M. 

With  M  are  to  be  associated  the  numerous  sequels  or  continuations 
of  The  Seven  Sages,  of  which  the  most  important  is  the  Marques  de 
Rome?  This  type  originated  in  Picardy,  probably  in  the  first  half  of 
the  thirteenth  century.  Johann  Alton,  who  has  edited  the  Marques* 
from  a  manuscript  of  the  Library  of  Arras  (written  down  by  Jehan 
Damien  in  1278),  describes  ten  Old  French  manuscripts,  and  Leroux 
de  Lincy  mentions  two  others.4  None  of  the  stories  in  the  Marques 
are  the  same  as  those  in  The  Seven  Sages,  but  some  of  them  (as  for 
instance  the  fifth,  which  resembles  medicus*)  are  obviously  modeled 
after  them.  The  Marques  doubtless  grew  out  of  A*,  —  according  to 
Alton,  with  M  as  an  intervening  stage,  but  Gaston  Paris  held  that  M 
was  later  than  the  Marques  and  the  rest  of  the  sequels.6  The  Marques 
has,  fortunately,  not  crossed  the  borders  of  France. 

6.  D*.  The  "Version  De'rime'e,"  a  unique  French  prose  manuscript 
published  by  Paris  as  the  first  of  his  Deux  Redactions  (pp.  1-55),  is 
thus  called  because  of  the  numerous  instances  of  rhyme  still  discernible 
in  the  text,  and  which  establish  for  it  a  metrical  original.7  Some  of 
these  rhyming  passages  fall  in  with  K,  but  not  all  of  them.  Moreover, 
the  order  of  stories  in  D*  differs  from  that  of  K.  Accordingly  D*  can- 
not have  been  based  on  K,  but  the  two  doubtless  go  back  to  a  common 
source,  now  lost,  which  Paris  designated  as  V.7 

1  For  Paris's  exposition  of  the  pedigree  of  M,  together  with  a  fuller  description 
of  that  version,  see  his  Deux  Redactions,  pp.  xxiii  f. 

2  Others  are  the  Fiseus  (or  Laurin),  Cassiodorus,  Pelearmenus,  and  Kanor. 

3  Li  Romans  de  Marques  de  Rome,  Tubingen,  1889. 

4  Roman  des  Sept  Sages  (with  L.  Deslongchamps's  Essai  sur  les  Fables  Indiennes), 
Paris,  1838,  p.  xliv.  6  See  Alton,  p.  172.  6  See  Romania,  XIX,  p.  493. 

7  See,  for  the  peculiarities  of  D*  and  its  relationship  to  other  versions,  Paris, 
I.e.,  pp.  v  f. 


THE   CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xxxi 

D*  styles  the  King  Marcomeris,  son  of  Priam,  and  makes  the  Prince's 
mother  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Carthage,  as  with  K.  As  with  K, 
also,  D*  lays  the  scene  of  the  story  at  Constantinople.  It  abridges  at 
the  beginning,  but  later  elaborates  freely.  Two  independent  additions 
at  the  end  are  the  attempts  of  the  Queen  to  escape  punishment :  one 
by  means  of  a  judicial  combat,  which  is  fought  between  the  Prince  and 
her  nephew,  Frohart;  the  other  by  asking  of  the  Emperor,  as  a  last 
favor,  a  toise  (that  is,  something  which  may  be  encircled  by  the  arms) 
to  be  burned  with  her,  which  being  granted,  she  demands  the  Emperor 
himself.  Both  of  the  attempts  are  frustrated  by  the  Prince. 

7.  L  comprises  all  manuscripts  of  the  type  of  the  first  Leroux  de 
Lincy  text  (Roman  des  Sept  Sages,  pp.  1-76).  At  least  seven  Old 
French  manuscripts  preserving  the  L  tradition  either  wholly  or  in  part 
are  known  to  survive,1  and  there  is  also  a  metrical  version  in  Catalan 
(3424  octosyllabic  lines  rhyming)  in  a  fourteenth-century  manuscript 
belonging  to  the  Library  of  Carpentras.  An  edition  of  the  latter,  by 
Mussafia,  appeared  in  1876  (Vienna  Academy,  Denkschriften,  XXV, 
pp.  15  if.). 

The  most  distinctive  characteristics  of  L  are  its  employment  of  the 
stories  filia  and  noverca,  and  the  omission  of  the  stories  vidua  and 
vatidnium.  In  the  employment  of  the  filia-noverca  feature  L  clearly 
betrays  the  influence  of  S,  which,  except  for  the  reversal  of  order  of 
puteus  and  tentamina,  it  tracks  closely  also  for  the  remaining  eleven 
stories.  For  these  eleven  stories,  however,  L  shows  a  much  closer 
agreement  with  A*  ;  indeed,  for  these  stories  L  is  textually  all  but  one 
with  A*.  Still,  Gaston  Paris  believed  A*  to  be  later  than  L,  and  he 
was,  in  consequence,  driven  to  the  view  that  L  was  based  on  some 
manuscript  of  S.  To  explain  the  difference  between  L  and  S  after  the 
eleventh  story,  Paris  conjectured  that  the  author  of  L  used  a  manu- 
script of  S  which  was  mutilated  toward  the  end,  and  that  he  was  obliged, 
accordingly,  to  draw  on  his  memory  for  the  concluding  stories.2  There 
are  reasons,  however,  for  discrediting  in  part  Paris's  conclusions  here, 
as  will  be  shown  below  in  the  discussion  of  A*. 

1  These  are  MSS.  Bib.  Nat.  fr.  189,  1444,  19166,  22933,  24431,  Bib.  Nat.  Moreau 
1720,  Ars.  B.  L.  fr.  245,  and  Chartres  620.    P.  Meyer,  in  Bulletin  de  la  Soc.  des  anc. 
Textesfr.  for  1894,  pp.  39  f.,  mentions  three  other  manuscripts  which  he  by  impli- 
cation groups  with  L,  but  his  report  is  not  explicit. 

2  Paris,  Deux  Redactions,  pp.  xi  f. 


xxxii  INTRODUCTION 

8.  A*  is  for  English,  French,  and  Italian,  if  not,  in  fact,  for  the 
entire  Western  group  of  The  Seven  Sages,  the  most  important  of  all 
groups.  In  English  it  includes  all  nine  of  the  Middle  English  manu- 
scripts that  have  been  brought  to  light;  and  in  French,  no  less  than 
twenty-one  Old  French  manuscripts.1  To  it  also  belong  three  different 
early  Italian  versions,  two  early  Swedish  versions,  a  Dutch  metrical 
version,  and  the  Welsh  version.  And  ultimately  based  on  A*,  as  has 
been  shown,  are  all  manuscripts  of  I,  H,  M,  and  Marques. 

The  nine  Middle  English  manuscripts  of  A*  represent  not  more 
than  two  different  versions.  These  will  be  discussed  at  length  in  the 
next  division  of  this  Introduction.2 

The  Old  French  manuscripts  are  all  in  prose,  and  apparently  repre- 
sent only  one  version.  Four  of  these  manuscripts  (Brussels  9245, 
Ars.  B.  L.  fr.  283,  Bib.  Nat.  fr.  95,  and  Cambridge  Gg.  VI.  28)  show  a 
contamination  with  L.3  A  part  of  MS.  Bib.  Nat.  fr.  2137  was  pub- 
lished by  Leroux  de  Lincy  in  1838  in  the  appendices  to  his  Roman 
des  Sept  Sages,  pp.  7  9-1 03,*  and  an  edition  of  MS.  Bib.  Nat.  fr.  95  has 
recently  been  published  by  Plomp.5 

The  Italian  versions  belonging  to  A*  are  the  Libro  dei  Sette  Savj, 
published  by  A.  d'Ancona  (Pisa,  1864,  pp.  1-94)  and  preserved  in  two 
manuscripts  of  the  fifteenth  century ;  a  Storia  favolosa  di  Stefano,  pre- 
served in  a  Padua  manuscript ; 6  and  the  prose  version  published  by 
H.  Varnhagen  from  the  early  fourteenth-century  British  Museum  MS. 

1  These  are  MSS.  Bib.  Nat.  fr.  93,  95,  1421,  2137,  5586,  20040,  22548,  25545, 
Bib.  Nat.  Nouv.  Acq.  fr.  1263,  Bib.  Nat.  Moreau  1691,  Ars.  B.  L.  fr.  246,  283, 
Brussels  9245,  9433,  10171,  11190,  Cambridge  Gg.  I.  i,  Gg.  VI.  28,  Harl.  3860, 
St.  John  Baptist  College  (Oxford)  102,  and  Berne  354.    For  a  description  of  most 
of  these,  see  H.  P.  B.  Plomp,  De  Middelnederlandsche  Bewerking  van  het  gedicht 
van  den^vii  Vroeden  van  binnen  Rome,  Utrecht,  1899,  pp.  i8f. 

2  Pp.^xxv  f. 

3  The  story  noverca  has  been  appended  to  the  first  of  these.    In  the  second  the 
same  change  has  been  made,  and  in  addition  Roma  has  been  supplanted  \>y  filia, 
The  last  two  of  the  four  manuscripts  contain  seventeen  stories  each,yf//kz  appear- 
ing as  the  thirteenth  story  and  noverca  as  the  seventeenth.    See  Plomp,  pp.  32  f. 
See  Plomp  also,  p.  31,  concerning  a  slight  contamination  withH  detectable  in  MS. 
Bib.  Nat.  fr.  5586. 

4  The  variants  of  the  rest  from  MS.  Bib.  Nat.  fr.  19166  are  given  in  footnotes 
to  his  edition  of  the  latter  manuscript,  pp.  1-76. 

5  In  an  appendix  to  his  dissertation,  De  Middelnederlandsche  Bewerking,  etc., 
Utrecht,  1899.  6  Described  by  Cesari,  Amabile  di  Continentia,  pp.  Iviii  f. 


THE  CONTINENTAL  VERSIONS  xxxiii 

Addl.  27429.1  The  last  two  of  these  agree  in  substituting  for  puteus  a 
story  named  by  Varnhagen  mercator.  The  Storia  favolosa,  in  calling 
the  prince  Stefano,  betrays  the  influence  of  I.  All  these  Italian  versions 
are  in  prose. 

In  prose  also  are  the  two  Swedish  versions,  one  preserved  in  a  four- 
teenth-century manuscript,  the  other  in  a  fifteenth-century  manuscript.2 

The  Dutch  version  is  in  verse,  and  comprises  45 14  lines.  It  is  found 
in  a  Brussels  manuscript  of  the  fourteenth  century.  There  is  an  edition 
of  it  by  K.  Stallaert  (Gent,  1889). 

The  Welsh  version,  Seith  Doethon  Ruvein,  a  prose  redaction,  much 
condensed,  purports  to  have  been  written  by  a  Welsh  priest,  Llewelyn. 
It  appears  in  the  famous  Llyfr  Coch  o  Hergist  (Jesus  College,  Oxford), 
a  manuscript  of  the  fourteenth  century,  and  in  four  other  manuscripts 
of  later  execution:  Jesus  College  MS.  3,  Peniarth  MS.  180,  Cardiff 
MS.  5,  and  Cardiff  MS.  6.3  An  edition  based  on  the  Peniarth  manu- 
script, which  is  a  late  copy  of  Jesus  College  MS.  3,  was  published  by 
R.  Williams  in  Selections  from  the  Hengwrt  MSS.,  London,  1880, 
pp.  301-324.  An  English  translation,  by  G.  H.  Jones,  is  printed  in 
the  continuation  of  this  volume,  London,  1892,  pp.  64 7-66 2. 4 

1  Eine  Italienische  Prosaversion  der  Sieben  Weisen,  Berlin,  1881. 

2  Both  of  these  were  published  at  Stockholm  in  1888  by  G.  E.  Klemming,  Sju 
vise  mastare,  Samlingar  af  Svenska  Fornskrift-Sallskapet,   XCVI,   pp.    113—172 
(Version  A)  and  pp.  175-218  (Version  B). 

3  On  the  manuscripts  see  J.  Gwenogvryn  Evans,  Report  on  Manuscripts  in  the 
Welsh  Language,  Historical  MSS.  Commission,  1902,  pp.  3,  4,  33,  34,  101.      «. 

4  The  order  of  stories  in  the  Welsh  version  is  as  follows :  (i)  arbor,  (2)  cants, 
(3)  aper,  (4)  medicus,  ($gaza,  (6) puteus,  (7)  ramus  [see  note  on  11.  1689  f-]»  (8)  Roma- 
lupus  [see  note  on  11.  3063  f.],  (9)  Virgilius,  (10)  vidua,  (u)  sapientes,  (12)  inclusa, 
(13)  senescalcus,  (14)  tentamina,  (15)  vaticinium,  — avis  being  omitted.    This  order 
finds  nothing  closely  parallel  to  it  elsewhere.    It  is  nearest,  however,  to  the  order 
of  A*,  with  which  it  agrees  for  the  first  six  stories,  the  ninth,  the  eleventh,  and 
the  fifteenth.    And  a  comparison  of  motif  quite  confirms  this  presumption  in 
favor  of  a  basis  for  the  Welsh  version  in  A*.    The  Middle  English  form  of  A*, 
however,  was  not  used,  as  is  shown  by  two  particulars  in  tentamina  in  which  the 
Welsh  agrees  with  the  Old  French  as  against  the  Middle  English  :  (a)  it  is  at  the 
end  of  the  first  year  of  married  life  that  the  wife  complains  to  her  mother,  and 
(&)  the  wife,  on  leaving  the  table  on  the  occasion  of  the  last  test,  "  went  to  fetch 
a  knife  for  her  lord."    The  names  of  the  sages  in  the  Welsh  version  are  Bantillas, 
Augustus,  Lentillus,  Malquidas,  Catonias,  Jesse,  and  Martinus.    The  Emperor  is 
called  Diocletian,  and  his  first  wife  Eva ;  the  names  of  the  second  wife  and  the 
Prince  are  not  given. 


xxxiv  INTRODUCTION 

The  Emperor  in  A*  is  called  Diocletian.  The  Prince  is  not  named 
in  the  Old  French  and  the  Dutch  versions,  but  in  the  English  versions l 
he  is  called  Florentine,  and  in  one  of  the  Italian  versions  (under  the 
influence  of  I)  Stefano.  As  to  the  name  of  the  cruel  stepmother  all 
versions  are  silent,  but  the  Prince's  mother  is  called  in  the  Middle 
English  versions  either  Milicent  or  Helie.  The  sages  are  known  (as 
with  K,  D*,  and  L)  as  Bancillas,  Anxilles,  Lentilioune,  Malquidas, 
Caton,  Jesse,  and  Maxencious,2  with  many  variations  in  spelling.  The 
order  of  stories  in  A*  is  (i)  arbor,  (2)  cants,  (3)  aper,  (4)  medicus, 
(5)  Saza9  (6)  puteus,  (7)  senescalcus,  (8)  tentamina,  (9)  Virgilius, 
(10)  avis,  (n)  sapientes,  (12)  vidua,  (13)  Roma,  (14)  inclusa,(\$) 
vaticinium.  This  order  is,  for  the  first  eleven  stories,  the  same  as  that 
of  L,  with  which,  as  noted  above,  A*  is  for  this  part  textually  almost 
identical.  The  order  of  A*  is  also  very  near  that  of  S ;  but  A*  preserves 
a  different  tradition  from  that  of  both  L  and  S  in  that  it  does  not  con- 
tain the  stories  filia  and  noverca.  In  the  omission  of  these  it  falls 
rather  with  K  and  D*,  but  at  the  same  time  it  differs  from  them  con- 
siderably in  the  order  of  stories. 

The  most  ancient  texts  of  A*  are  in  Old  French.  At  least  nine  Old 
French  manuscripts  belonging  to  the  thirteenth  century  are  known.3 
Besides,  the  Marques  de  Rome,  which  itself  belongs  to  the  first  half  of 
the  thirteenth  century,  was,  as  pointed  out  above,  inspired  by  A*; 
so  that  the  composition  of  A*  can  pretty  safely  be  placed  in  the 
twelfth  century. 

The  source  of  A*  Gaston  Paris4  believed  to  be  L  and  V  (the  hypo- 
thetical Old  French  metrical  version),  the  text  to  the  end  of  the 
eleventh  story  being  taken  from  L,  and  the  rest  drawn  from  V.  This 
view  so  far  as  it  concerns  V  is  probably  correct,  but  there  are  grounds 
for  discrediting  the  theory  so  far  as  it  concerns  L.  The  chief  of  these 
is  that  L  is  obviously  composite  in  nature,  preserving  in  its  two  parts 
two  comparatively  distinct  lines  of  tradition ; 5  it  is,  besides,  imperfect 

1  Except  As,  in  which  both  the  Emperor  and  the  Prince  are  known  as  Diocletian. 

2  The  spelling  here  is  that  of  MS.  Cotton  Galba  E.  ix  (C),  which  furnishes  the 
text  edited  in  this  volume. 

8  The  fullest  information  as  to  the  date  of  the  Old  French  manuscripts  is  that 
given  by  Leroux  de  Lincy,  I.e.,  pp.  vii  f.  4  Deux  Redactions,  pp.  xviii  f. 

6  Moreover,  it  has  not  been  shown  that  S,  upon  which  Paris  assumed  L  to  have 
been  based,  was  older  than  A*.  Indeed,  Goedeke  (Orient  iind  Occident,  III,  p.  397) 
ventured  no  earlier  dating  for  S  than  the  first  half  of  the  thirteenth  century. 


THE   ENGLISH   VERSIONS 


xxxv 


in  one  of  these  parts,  and  is  quite  illogical  in  its  conclusion.  Other 
grounds  are  the  early  vogue  of  A*  (not  only  in  French,  but  also  in 
English,  Dutch,  Welsh,  and  even  in  Scandinavian)  and  its  closer  kinship 
with  K.  Much  more  plausible,  then,  than  the  theory  that  A*  was  for 
its  first  eleven  stories  drawn  from  L  is  the  theory  that  L  for  these 
stories  was  drawn  from  A*.  Assuming  this  to  be  the  case,  we  may 
find  the  source  of  A*  in  some  lost  metrical  version,  perhaps  the  source 
of  K  and  D*,  and  possibly  the  parent  version  of  the  entire  Western 
group  of  The  Seven  Sages. 


TABLE  OF  STORIES  IN    THE  SEVEN  SAGES  OF 

\.i  «/  v  v  y  \/ 


A* 

L 

s 

K 

D* 

H 

I 

M 

(0 

arbor 

arbor 

arbor 

arbor 

arbor 

arbor 



arbor 

(2) 

cants 

cants 

cants 

cants 

cants 

cants 

cants 

cants 

(3) 

aper 

aper 

aper 

senesc. 

senesc. 

aper 

arbor 

aper 

(4) 

•medicus 

•medicus 

•medicus 

medicus 

medicus 

puteus 

•medicus 

medicus 

(5) 

gaza 

gaza 

gaza 

aper 

aper 

gaza 

aper 

gaza 

(6) 

puteus 

Puteus 

tentam. 

Puteus 

puteus        \ 

avis 

tentam. 

\avis 

(7) 

senescalcus 

senesc. 

senesc. 

Roma 

sapient. 

sapient. 

sapient. 

filius 

(8) 

tentamina 

tentam. 

puteus 

tentam. 

tentam. 

tentam. 

\javis 

vidua 

(9) 

Virgiliris 

Virgil. 

Virgil. 

gaza 

Roma 

Virgil. 

gaza 

nutrix 

k(io) 

font 

avis 

*avis 

•avis 

avis 

medicus 

inclusa 

A  ntenor 

(") 

sapientes 

sapient. 

sapient. 

sapient. 

gaza 

sen.  +  Rom. 

Roma 

spurius 

(12) 

vidua 

noverca 

vidua 

vidua 

vidua 

amatores 

vidua 

cardamum 

(13) 

Roma 

filia 

filia 

Virgil. 

Virgil. 

inclusa 

Virgil. 

assassinus 

(14) 

inclusa 



noverca 

inclusa 

inclusa 

vidua 

puteus 

inclusa 

(i5) 

vaticinium 



vaticin. 

vaticin. 

vaticin.  + 

vat.  +  amid 

vaticin. 

vaticin. 

B.  THE  ENGLISH  VERSIONS 

The  English  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  fall  into  two  dis- 
tinct groups,  the  Middle  English  versions  and  the  Early  Modern 
English  versions. 

The  Middle  English  versions  are  preserved  in  nine  manuscripts,  all 
belonging  to  the  fourteenth,  fifteenth,  and  sixteenth  centuries.  Only 

1  The  Middle  English  manuscripts,  with  the  exception  of  F,  for  which  see  p.  xlix, 
follow  the  order  of  A* ;  the  later  English  versions,  the  order  of  H.  For  the  order 
of  stories  in  the  Welsh  version,  see  p.  xxxiii  above ;  for  the  order  in  the  fragmentary 
Old  French  metrical  version  preserved  in  a  Chartres  manuscript,  see  p.  xxviii.  —  The 
stories  in  the  Dolopathos  are  as  follows :  (i)  cams,  (2)  gaza,  (3)  senes,  (4)  creditor, 
(5)  viduae  filius,  (6)  latronis  filitis,  (7)  cygni  eques,  (8)  inchisa  -\-puteus. 


xxxvi  INTRODUCTION 

two  of  these-  manuscripts  (C  and  R,  which  furnish  respectively  the  text 
and  the  variants  printed  in  this  volume)  are  copies  of  the  same  text. 
Of  the  rest,  one  (As)  was  probably  based  directly  on  some  French 
manuscript  and  hence  has  no  connection  with  any  other  English  manu- 
script. The  remaining  eight  manuscripts  all  find  a  common  source  in  a 
thirteenth-century  English  manuscript  now  lost.  The  source  of  this 
lost  manuscript,  as  also  of  As,  was  some  Old  French  manuscript  belong- 
ing to  group  A*.  All  the  Middle  English  versions  are  in  the  octo- 
syllabic couplet. 

The  Early  Modern  English  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  have  no 
connection  with  the  Middle  English  versions,  but  represent  a  quite 
distinct  line  of  tradition,  all  of  them  going  back  to  H.  This  group 
comprises  the  prose  version  printed  by  Wynkynde  Worde,  with  the  many 
derivatives  therefrom,  and  a  Scottish  poem  by  John  Rolland  of  Dalkeith. 
All  of  these  were  printed  very  soon  after  their  composition. 

I.  THE  MIDDLE  ENGLISH  VERSIONS 

The  nine  Middle  English  manuscripts  of  The  Seven  Sages  are  as 
follows : 

1.  Cotton  Galba  E.  ix  (C),  in  the  British  Museum. 

2.  Rawlinson  Poet.  175  (R),  in  the  Bodleian  Library. 

3.  Auchinleck  (A),  in  the  Advocates'  Library  at  Edinburgh. 

4.  Arundel  140  (Ar),  in  the  British  Museum. 

5.  Egerton  1995  (E),  in  the  British  Museum. 

6.  Balliol  College  354  (B),  in  the  Library  of  Balliol  College, 
Oxford. 

7.  Cambridge  University  Ff.  II.  38  (F),   in   the  Cambridge 
University  Library. 

8.  Cambridge  University   Dd.  I.   17   (D),  in  the  Cambridge 
University  Library. 

9.  Asloan  (As),  in  the  Library  of  Lord  Talbot  de  Malahide, 
Malahide  Castle,  Ireland. 

A  Brief  Description  of  the  Manuscripts.  —  i.  C.  MS.  Cotton  Galba 
E.  ix.1  The  Seven  Sages  occupies  folios  25**  to  48*.  It  is  written  in 
double  columns,  47  lines  to  the  column.  The  text  of  The  Seven  Sages 
is  complete,  comprising  4328  lines.  The  handwriting  is  strikingly 

1  See  pp.  Ixvii  f.  for  a  more  detailed  description  of  C. 


THE  MIDDLE  ENGLISH  VERSIONS  xxxvii 

regular  and  clear ;  it  belongs,  according  to  the  most  reliable  authorities, 
to  the  first  third  of  the  fifteenth  century.  Lines  i  to  134  and  3108  to 
4328  are  printed  in  Weber's  Metrical  Romances,  Edinburgh,  1810,  III, 
pp.  i  f.  and  io8f.  C  furnishes  the  text  for  the  present  edition  of  The 
Seven  Sages,  comprising  pp.  1-145  °f  *ms  volume. 

2.  R.  MS.  Rawlinson  Poet.  175  (new  number  I4667).1    The  Seven 
Sages  extends  from  folio  109*  through  folio  131°.    It  is  written  in  double 
columns  of  44  lines  each.    The  text  is  incomplete,  two  folios  which 
should  follow  the  folio  numbered  125  having  been  lost.    Moreover,  in 
the  binding  of  the  manuscript  the  two  folios  which  should  come  just 
after  folio  123  were  placed  just  after  folio  125  and  numbered  126,  127. 
R  is  a  copy  of  the  same  manuscript  as  that  from  which  C  was  copied, 
but  it  differs  from  C  in  spelling  (and  occasionally  in  wording),  in  the 
addition  of  a  couplet  after  1.  2364  (according  to  the  numbering  of  C), 
in  the  omission  of  two  couplets  (in  C,  11.  1279-1280  and  2843-2844), 
and  in  the  omission,  pointed  out  above,  of  two  folios  comprising  11. 
3673-4022  in  C.    3974  lines  of  R  remain.    The  manuscript  is  written  in 
a  hand  of  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century.    No  edition  of  R  has 
been  published,  but  its  variants  from  C  are  published  in  the  footnotes 
to  this  edition,  pp.  1-145. 

3.  A.  The  Auchinleck  Manuscript.2    The  text  of  The  Seven  Sages 
occupies  folios  85*  to  99d.    It  is  fragmentary  at  both  beginning  and 
end;  but  2646  lines3  remain.    The  date  of  the  manuscript  is  about 
1320.*    A  was  published  by  Weber  in  Metrical  Romances,  Edinburgh, 
1810,  III,  pp.  1-153  >  it  comprises,  however,  only  11.  135-2779  in  this 
edition,  C  having  been  used  for  the  remainder.    A  collation  of  this 
edition  with  the  manuscript  was  published  by  Kolbing  in  Englische 
Studien,  VI,  pp.  443  f.    Copious  extracts  of  A,  together  with  an  analysis 
of  the  entire  poem,  may  be  found  in  Ellis's  Specimens  of  Early  English 
Metrical  Romances,  London,  1811,  III,  pp.  i  f.  (the  same,  ed.  J.  O. 
Halliwell,  London,  1848,  pp.  405  f.).    Textually  A  is  comparatively  pure. 
Its  dialect  is  Kentish. 

1  See,  for  a  fuller  description,  pp.  Ixx  f.  below. 

2  Described  by  E.  Kolbing,  Engl.  Stud.,  VII,  pp.  lySf. 

3  Of  these  the  first  line,  "  For  \>e  mede  of  mi  seruise,"  is  omitted  in  Weber's 
edition  in  order  to  avoid  a  clash  in  rhyme  with  C. 

4  See  Kolbing,  Arthour  and  Merlin,  p.  Ix ;   Brandl  in  Paul's  Grimdriss,  II,  i, 
p.  653,  and  the  N.  E.  D,  under  Benison,  Boil,  Boy,  Grace,  Hale,  etc. 


xxxviii  INTRODUCTION 

4.  Ar.  MS.  Arundel  140.    This,  a  paper  manuscript,  belongs,  accord- 
ing to  Ward    (Catalogue  of  Romances,  II,  p.  224),  to  the   fifteenth 
century.   The  Seven  Sages  occupies  folios  152  to  i65b.  The  text  is  frag- 
mentary at  both  beginning  and  end,  beginning  near  the  conclusion  of 
aper  and  ending  shortly  after  the  opening  of  vaticinium;1    2565  lines 
remain.    The  manuscript  is  much  faded,  and  in  many  places  illegible, 
at  the  end  of  the  ^-columns  and  the  beginning  of  the  ^-columns.   Single 
lines  have  been  lost  after  11.  618  and  2549 ;  after  1.  919  an  extra  line, 
without  a  corresponding  rhyme,  has  been  introduced.    Ar  is  imperfect 
also  in  its  meter ;  the  number  of  lame  lines  is  not  small,  and  there  are 
likewise  a  good  many  imperfect  rhymes.   The  dialect  is  Kentish.    No 
edition  has  yet  appeared. 

5.  E.  MS.  Egerton  I995.2    This  also  is  a  paper  manuscript,  written 
probably  in  the  second  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.    The  Seven  Sages 
occupies  folios  3  to  54b.,  It  is  written  in  single  columns,  with  initials  in 
red  and  with  very  regular  capitalization.    The  text  comprises  only  3588 
lines,  but  is  complete.    The   meter  is  comparatively  good,  and   the 
rhyme  very  regular.    The  dialect  is  not  strongly  marked,  but  appears 
to  be  Kentish.3    This  text  has  not  been  published. 

6.  B.  Balliol  College  MS.  354.    This  manuscript  was  written  early  in 
the  sixteenth  century,4  and  according  to  Coxe  (Catalogus,  I,  p.  no)  is 
in  the  hand  of  John  Hyde ;  the  colophon,  however,  concludes  with  the 
words,  "  Quod  Richard  Hill,"  whence  we  are  pretty  safe  in  inferring 
that  Richard  Hill  was  the  scribe.    The  Seven  Sages  begins  with  folio  i8a 
and  ends  with  folio  54b.    The  text  is  complete,  in  3708  lines.    Abbre- 
viations are  few.    The  rhyme  is  pretty  regular.    Sometimes  the  same 
rhyme  is  used  for  a  leash  of  four  or  more  lines.  The  dialect  is  Southern.5 
No  edition  of  the  text  has  been  printed,  but  the  Early  English  Text 
Society  has  for  several  years  been  advertising  the  entire  manuscript  as 
calling  for  publication. 

1  The  lines  in  C  corresponding  to  the  first  and  last  lines  of  Ar  are  1041  and 
3848.  2  For  a  general  description,  see  Ward,  I.e.,  II,  pp.  218  f. 

3  The  representative  of  Anglo-Saxon  y  is  usually  ^,  but  is  occasionally  y,  as  in 
the  rhymes  kynne :  lynne  (1317-1318)  and  wynne :  syne  (1635-1636).    Occasionally, 
too,  E  affects  a  Northern  pronunciation,  as  in  kynge :  yonge  (93-94)  and  yonge : 
connynge  (3581-3582). 

4  See  articles  31  and  98  of  the  manuscript. 

5  A  few  forms  in  which  Anglo-Saxon  y  is  represented  by  e  are  probably  to  be 
traced  to  a  Kentish  original. 


THE   MIDDLE  ENGLISH  VERSIONS  xxxix 

7.  F.  Cambridge  University  MS.  Ff.  II.  38  (formerly  "More  690  "). 
This  is  a  paper  manuscript  of  about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century.1 
The  text  of   The  Seven  Sages  occupies  folios   134*  to   i56d,  and  is 
incomplete,  folios  141  and  144  having  been  lost  entirely  and  folio  135 
in  part;   2555  lines  remain.    The  rhyme  is  not  often  incorrect,  but  un- 
rhythmical lines  abound,  especially  in  the  first  half  of  the  poem.    The 
dialect  is  somewhat  mixed,  but  is  clearly  that  of  some  one  of  the 
Southern  counties.    As  in  B,  there  are  traces  of  a  Kentish  source. 
Extracts  from  F  are  printed   in  Halliwell,   The  Thornton  Romances, 
Camden  Society  Publications,  XXX,   pp.   xliii  f. ;    Wright,    The   Seven 
Sages,  Percy  Society  Publications,  XVI,  pp.  Ixx  f. ;   and  Petras,   Uber 
die  mittelenglischen  Fassungen  der  Sage  von  den  Sieben   Weisen  Mei- 
stern,  Breslau,  1885,  pp.  60  f. 

8.  D.  Cambridge  University  MS.  Dd.  I.  i;.2   This  manuscript  belongs 
to  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century,3  and  is  written  on  parchment. 
The  text  of  The  Seven  Sages  is  complete,  but  is  obviously  the  work  of 
a  careless  scribe ;  no  less  than  thirteen  couplets  have  been  vitiated  by 
the  loss  of  one  of  their  lines,4  and  there  are  other-,  serious  textual 
crudities.    The  dialect  is  Southeast  Midland,  with  a  liberal  intermixture 
of  Northern  forms.    An  edition  of  D  was  made  by  Thomas  Wright  in 
184^  (Percy  Society  Publications,  .XVI^  pp.  if.).    A  collation  of  this 
edition  with  the  manuscript  was  published  by  Kolbing  in  Engl.  Stud., 
VI,  pp.  448  f. 

9.  As.  The  Asloan  Manuscript.    This  manuscript,  according  toVarn- 
hagen,  who  has  described  it  in  Engl.  Stud.,  XXV,  pp.  321  f.,5  was 
written  about  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century.    The  Seven  Sages 
occupies  folios  167  to  209  inclusive,  and  comprises  about  2800  lines. 

1  See  Halliwell,   The  Thornton  Romances,  London,  1844,  pp.  xxxvif.,  and  the 
Cambridge  University  Library  Catalogue  of  Manuscripts,  II,  p.  408. 

2  See,  for  a  general  description,  the  Cambridge  University  Library  Catalogue  of 
Manuscripts,  I,  pp.  15  £.,  and  W.  W.  Skeat,  William's  Vision  of  Piers  the  Plowman, 
E.  E.  T.  S.,  1869,  XXXVIII,  pp.  xxiii  f. 

3  The  N.  E.  D.  under  Carol,  6,  dates  the  manuscript  somewhat  later  —  about 
1425;    Morsbach,  Mittelenglische  Grammatik,  Halle,   1896,  p.  9,  for  some  inex- 
plicable reason  would  place  it  around  1300. 

4  These  are  the  lines  coming  immediately  after  or  immediately  before  lines 
1312,  1417,  1696,  1719,  2094,  2293,  2695,  2840,  2960,  3057,  3134,  3365,  and  3395. 

5  The  manuscript  is  also  described  by  J.  Schipper,  Poems  of  Dunbar,  Vienna, 
1891,  Part  I,  pp.  5  f. 


xl 


INTRODUCTION 


The  text  is  incomplete,  the  stories  vidua  and  Roma  having  been 
omitted  entirely.1  The  rhyme  of  As  is  good,  but  the  rhythm  is  often 
faulty;  particularly  awkward  are  certain  daring  enjambements?  The 
dialect  is  Scottish.  A  complete  transcript  of  As,  made  by  D.  Laing  in 
1826,  belongs  to  the  Library  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  An 
extract  of  196  lines  (the  story  avis)  was  published  by  Varnhagen  in 
Engl.  Stud.,  XXV,  pp.  322  f.,  with  his  description  of  the  manuscript. 
An  edition  of  the  entire  poem  by  the  same  scholar  has  for  several  years 
been  advertised  by  the  Scottish  Text  Society  as  "  about  to  appear." 

The  Interrelation  of  the  Manuscripts.  Of  the  nine  Middle  English 
manuscripts,  only  two  —  C  and  R  —  are  copies  of  the  same  text.  Five 
other  manuscripts,  however, — A,  Ar,  E,  B,  and  F —  are  closely  related 
to  each  other  and  to  the  text  reproduced  by  C  and  R,  and,  together 
with  these  two,  make  up  the  group  which  I  designate  as  Y. 

The  close  interrelationship  of  the  manuscripts  that  constitute  Y  may 
be  graphically  shown  by  the  following  table,  the  result  of  a  line-for-line 
comparison  for  the  section  which  C,  R,  A,  Ar,  E,  and  B3  have  in  common,4 
the  comparison  being  restricted  to  identical  lines  6  and  similar  rhymes. 


Total 
lines 

R  2062 

A  1816 

Ar  1916 

E  1843 

B  1932 


1  There  are,  according  to  Laing  (see  his  transcript),  other  lacunae,  but  of  less 
moment ;   among  them  a  lacuna  after  1.  61,  which  Laing  takes  to  involve  the  loss 
of  an  entire  folio,  but  which  probably  amounts  to  less  than  ten  lines. 

2  As,  for  example,  in  the  following  couplet  (11.  19-20)  : 

In  Rome  cite  than  was  thar  sevyne 
Sagis,  the  wisest  vndir  hevyne. 

8  F,  owing  to  the  radical  irregularities  which  characterize  that  part  of  its  text 
which  corresponds  to  the  section  used  for  this  comparison,  is  excluded  from  the 
table. 

*  That  is  :  for  C,  11.  1041-3104 ;  for  R,  11.  1041-3102  ;  for  A,  11.  963-2778  ;  for  Ar, 
11.  1-1916;  for  E,  11.  949-2791 ;  for  B,  11.  933-2864. 

6  In  the  numbering  of  identical  lines  account  is  taken  of  any  differences  in 
word-order,  but  not  of  differences  in  spelling. 


064  lines 

(2)    R 

=  2062  lines 

I  dent.            Similar 

Total 

Ident.           Similar 

lines              rhymes 

lines 

lines              rhymes 

2010               1028 

C 

2064 

2010               1028 

26                 338 

A 

1816 

26                 336 

19                 413 

Ar 

1916 

19                 411 

II                  352 

E 

1843 

II                 351 

13                 28l 

6 

1932 

13                 279 

THE   MIDDLE   ENGLISH   VERSIONS 


xli 


(3)  A 

=  1816  lines 

(4)  Ar 

=  1916 

lines 

Total 

Ident. 

Similar 

Total 

Ident 

Similar 

lines 

lines 

rhymes 

lines 

lines 

rhymes 

c 

2064 

26 

338 

C 

2064 

'9 

413 

R 

2062 

26 

336 

R 

2062 

19 

411 

Ar 

1916 

234 

722 

A 

1816 

234 

722 

E 

1843 

125 

636 

E 

1843 

169 

746 

B 

1932 

116 

537 

B 

1932 

137 

646 

(5)  1 

£  =  1843  nnes 

(6)    E 

•  =  1932 

lines 

C 

2064 

ii 

352 

C 

2064 

13 

281 

R 

2062 

ii 

3S1 

R 

2062 

13 

279 

A 

1816 

125 

636 

A 

1816 

116 

537 

Ar 

1916 

169 

746 

Ar 

1916 

137 

646 

B 

1932 

83 

558 

E 

1843 

83 

558 

This  table  clearly  demonstrates  a  close  kinship  between  the  seven 
manuscripts  concerned.  It  will  be  shown  later  that  F,  also,  is  for  a 
large  part  of  it  very  near  to  these  manuscripts.  But  despite  such  close 
kinship  as  is  here  demonstrated,  no  one  of  the  seven  manuscripts  is 
based  on  any  other  member  of  the  group;  all  go  back  to  a  common 
Middle  English  source,  now  lost,  which  I  designate  as  y. 

Of  the  remaining  two  manuscripts,  one,  D,  though  it  differs  from 
Y  considerably  in  motif  and  quite  radically  in  wording,  seems  never- 
theless to  be  nearly  related  to  Y.  But  it  cannot  have  been  based 
on  any  one  of  the  manuscripts  that  make  up  Y,  since  it  is  in  some 
respects  more  faithful  than  any  of  them  to  the  Old  French  source. 
Accordingly,  we  have  to  assume  that  its  source  was  the  manuscript  (or 
some  derivative  therefrom)  upon  which  y  was  based,  —  a  manuscript, 
therefore,  which  is  the  parent  of  all  except  one  of  the  Middle  English 
manuscripts.  This  lost  manuscript  —  the  source  of  C,  R,  A,  Ar,  E,  B,  F, 
and  D  —  I  designate  as  x. 

As  was  probably  drawn  directly  from  the  French.  This  I  have  been 
unable  to  establish  conclusively,  but  there  is  no  substantial  evidence  of 
a  basis  upon  any  other  one  of  the  extant  Middle  English  manuscripts. 

The  grounds  for  these  generalizations,  and  further  details  as  to  the 
mutual  relations  of  the  Middle  English  manuscripts,  may  best  be  pre- 
sented in  a  consideration  of  each  of  the  manuscripts  separately.  I  first 
consider  the  manuscript  which  has  served  as  the  basis  of  the  text  edited 
in  this  book. 


xlii  INTRODUCTION 

i .  C.  Both  Petras l  and  Kolbing 2  held  C  to  represent  a  distinct  ver- 
sion of  The  Seven  Sages,  a  translation  made  directly  from  the  Old 
French  and  related  with  other  Middle  English  manuscripts  only  through 
a  common  Old  French  source.  That  this  view  is  erroneous,  however, 
a  glance  at  the  table  given  above  will  show ;  for  it  is  inconceivable 
that  two  quite  independent  translations  should  have,  in  a  total  of  less 
than  two  thousand  lines,  26  identical  lines  and  338  similar  rhymes.3 
Such  close  agreement  clearly  contradicts  any  theory  of  independent 
translation ;  it  indisputably  proves  a  near  relationship  between  C  and 
the  rest  of  Y. 

The  exact  nature  of  this  relationship,  however,  does  not  at  once 
appear.  The  tabular  evidence  would  indicate  either  that  C  was  based 
on  some  other  one  of  the  manuscripts  included  in  the  table,  or  that 
these  manuscripts  were  based  directly  or  indirectly  on  C,  or  that  they 
are  related  with  C  through  a  common  source. 

One  naturally  thinks  first  of  all  of  a  basis  for  C  in  R ;  but  it  is  shown 
below,  in  the  section  on  the  Cotton- Rawlinson  redaction,4  that  the  two 
go  back  to  a  common  source,  the  lost  manuscript  cr.  That  C  was  not 
based  on  any  of  the  other  manuscripts  of  Y  is  established  by  the  cir- 
cumstance that  in  several  instances  C  is  more  faithful  to  the  Old  French 
than  is  any  one  of  them.  For  example,  in  1.  3264  C  reads  Hungeri 
in  accord  with  A*  and  K,  while  the  other  Middle  English  manuscripts 
substitute  either  Piety s  or  Poyle.  Again,  11.  3039-3042  faithfully  repro- 
duce the  Old  French  (see  note  to  11.  3039-3042),  while  the  other  related 
manuscripts  are  silent  here.  Other  passages  in  which  C  is  unique  in  its 
fidelity  to  the  French  are  pointed  out  in  the  notes  to  11.  2988,  3612, 
3765-3768,  and  4195-4196.  And  further  evidence  supporting  this  con- 
clusion is  afforded  by  the  numerous  passages  (see  note  to  1.  1189)  in 
which  C  falls  in  with  F  as  against  other  manuscripts  ;  for  a  basis  of  C 
upon  F,  in  the  light  of  the  latter's  radical  peculiarities,  is  entirely  out 
of  the  question.  It  is  quite  clear,  then,  that  C  was  not  derived  from 
any  other  of  the  Middle  English  manuscripts  that  have  been  preserved. 

It  is  also  easily  demonstrated  that  no  other  of  the  Middle  English 
manuscripts  was  based  on  C;  for  there  is  not  one  of  them  save  R 

1  Uber  die  mittelenglischen  Fassungen  der  Sage  von  den  Sieben  Weisen  Meistern, 
p.  21.  2  Engl.  Stud.,  VI,  p.  442. 

8  These  are  the  figures  for  C  and  A ;  for  C  and  Ar  the  number  of  similar  rhymes 
is  even  larger.  4  Pp.  Ixvi  f. 


THE   MIDDLE  ENGLISH  VERSIONS  xliii 

(whose  relation  to  C  is  discussed  later1)  that  is  not  in  one  or  more  pas- 
sages closer  to  the  French  than  is  C.  Thus  in  medicus,  C  is  the  only 
one  of  the  Middle  English  manuscripts,  save  R,  that  omits  mention  of 
the  burning  of  the  nephew's  books,  a  feature  which  is  constant  in  the 
French  versions ;  so,  likewise,  in  omitting  the  name  of  the  tower  — 
Cressent — in  Roma.  Moreover,  there  are  in  C  a  number  of  additions 
(among  them  11.  1335-1342,  1520-1526,  2537-2544,  2595-2600, 
3886-3892,  3909-3922)  of  which  there  is  no  trace  in  any  other  text. 

We  are,  accordingly,  driven  to  the  conclusion  that  C  is  related  to  A, 
Ar,  E,  B,  and  F  through  some  Middle  English  manuscript  which  was 
either  y  or  a  copy  of  y,  and  that  it  reproduces  this  manuscript  in  a 
few  particulars  more  faithfully  than  do  any  other  of  the  manuscripts 
that  go  back  to  it. 

2.  R.  The  Rawlinson  manuscript,  as  the  tabular  statistics  make  ob- 
vious, is  merely  a  copy  of  the  text  preserved  in  C.    It  is  in  an  earlier 
hand  than  C,  but  C  was  not  copied  from  it ;  neither  was  R  copied  from 
some  manuscript  of  which  C  was  a  faithful  transcript ;  but  the  two  are 
independent  copies  of  the  same  original,  cr.  —  For  further  particulars 
concerning  the  relation  of  R  and  C,2  see  below,  pp.  Ixxi  f. 

3.  A.  The  oldest  of  the  Middle  English  manuscripts  is  the  Auchin- 
leck.     This  manuscript  is  in  the  Kentish  dialect  —  the  dialect,  in  all 
probability,  in  which  the  immediate  source  of  Y  was  written —  and 
doubtless  reflects  better  than  any  other  manuscript  the  phonology  and 
the  inflections  of  this  parent  version  (y).    In  wording,  too,  A  must  be 
nearer  to  y  than  is  any  other  of  the  manuscripts.    In  some  instances, 
indeed,  it  reproduces  the  very  words  of  the  French ;  as,  for  example, 
in  1.  666,  "  Deu  vous  doint  bonjour  "  =  L  15,  "  Diex  vos  doint  bon  jor  " 
(where  B  652,  "  Deux  vous  garde  bonjour,"  is  the  only  other  manuscript 
which  approximates  A),  and  1.  743,  "  in  pount  tournis  "  =  L(A*)  1 7,  "sur 
le  pont  torneiz  "  (where  other  manuscripts  employ  an  English  phras- 
ing).   Other  and  perhaps  better  evidence  of  A's  fidelity  to  its  source 
is  found  in  the  comparative  table  of  lines  and  rhymes  given  above, 
in  which  it  is  shown  that,  with  two  exceptions,8  all  the  manuscripts 

1  Pp.  Ixxi  f. 

2  R  being  merely  a  copy  of  C,  it  will  be  unnecessary  in  the  rest  of  this  section 
to  differentiate  between  the  two.    When  mention  is  made  of  C,  it  may  be  under- 
stood that  what  is"  said  of  it  holds  also  for  R. 

3  C  and  R  in  such  a  comparison  must,  of  course,  count  as  one. 


xliv 


INTRODUCTION 


there  taken  account  of  have  more  in  common  with  A  than  with  any 
other  manuscript. 

But  that  A  was  not  the  source  of  Y  is  proved  by  its  omission  of 
sundry  passages  found  both  in  other  members  of  Y  and  in  the  Old 
French.  This  abridgment  is  most  violent  in  the  conclusions  to  certain 
tales  —  in  particular,  aper,  gaza,  VirgiUus,  avis.  Thus  A  has  nothing 
corresponding  to  C  1041-1058  (=  Ar  1-20,  E  949-968,  B  933-948, 
L  (A*)  25),  nor  to  C  2370-2376  (=  Ar  1280-1288,  E  2204-2222, 
B  2244-2252,  L  (A*)  55),  while  against  C  1472-1490  (=  Ar  456-479, 
E  1401-1426,  B  1393-1420,  L  (A*)  34)  it  has  only  six  lines,  1387-1392. l 

1  An  illustration  of  this  fault  of  A  may  be  given  by  the  citation  of  A,  Ar,  and 
L  (A*)  for  the  last  of  the  passages  alluded  to. 


Ar  456     Loude  J>ei  gonne  on  hym  to  crye, 

And  saide,  "  Lentylyon,  kybe  by  mastry, 
Helpe  by  disciple  at  bis  nede." 
pe  master  a-ly5t  bo  of  his  stede, 

460     And  grete  J>e  Emperour  on  his  kne. 
Unnebe  wold  he  hym  see. 
pe  Emptfroure  saide,  "  pou  fals  man, 
Be  hym  ]?at  al  men-kynde  wan, 
pou  art  fekell  and  fatoure, 

465      Losengere  and  eke  trzytoure." 
"  A,  why,  syr,  leue  lord  ? 
So  nas  I  nenere,  saue  by  word. 
Syr,  by  gentyll  wyue  late  us  here, 
And  with  goddes  helpe  we  schull  us 
skore." 

470     "  I  Sow  toke  my  son  to  loke 
And  for  to  tech  hym  on  boke, 
And  bou  first  bygan  to  tech, 
By-nome  his  tong  and  his  spech, 
And  taugt  hym  sith  wzt//  more  stryf, 

475     For  to  nyme  forth  my  wyf. 
ge  schull  wite  beire-of  noujjt ; 
Bot  when  he  is  to  debe  brougt, 
I  schull  dampne  be  and  by  feren 

479     To  drawe  and  honge  by  J?e  swyren." 


L  34  Chascun  li  escria : 
Ha !  mestre,  or  pansez  de 
vostre  deciple. 

.  .  .  et  descent  de  son 
cheval. 

.  .  .  et  s'en  vient  devant 
1'empereur,  si  le  salue :  .  .  . 
Li  empereres  respont  au 
salu  qui  li  a  dit :  Ja  dex  ne 
vos  beneie. 

Avoi !  fet  messires  Lan- 
tules,  pourcoi  dites  vos  ce  ? 

Ge  le  vos  dirai,  fait  li 
empereres,  je  vos  avoie 
baillie  mon  fil  a  aprendre 
et  a  endoctriner,  et  la  pre- 
miere doctrine  que  li  avez 
faite,  si  est  que  vos  li  avez 
la  parole  tolue ;  1'autre  qui 
veult  prendre  ma  fame  a 
force.  Mes  ja  Dex  ne  vos  en 
doint  joir;  et  bien  sachiez 
que  tantost  comme  il  sera 
morz,  vos  morroiz  apres,  et 
seroiz  destruit  ensement. 


The  lines  corresponding  to  this  in  A  are  the  following  (1387-1392) : 
And  th'  emperour  wel  sone  he  fond : 
He  gret  him  faire,  ich  understond. 
Th'  emperour  saide,  "  So  God  me  spede, 
Traitour,  the  schal  be  quit  thi  mede ! 
For  mi  sones  mislerning, 
Ye  schulle  habbe  evil  ending ! " 


THE  MIDDLE  ENGLISH  VERSIONS  xlv 

This  proves  that  neither  C,  Ar,  E,  nor  B  was  based  on  A.  F,  for 
these  passages,  is  either  fragmentary  or  badly  garbled,  so  that  nothing 
can  be  inferred  from  them  as  to  its  history ;  but  it  will  be  shown  later, 
under  the  discussion  of  F,  that  this  manuscript,  too,  was  not  based  on  A. 
As  for  D  and  As,  some  details  in  which  each  of  them  is  alone  in  its 
loyalty  to  the  Old  French  establish  also  that  neither  one  of  them  was 
derived  from  A. 

That  A  was  not  based  on  any  other  extant  Middle  English  manu- 
script goes  without  saying,  for  it  antedates  all  of  them.  It  is  likewise 
not  to  be  believed  that  A  was  based  on  any  manuscript  older  than  itself 
of  which  some  one  of  the  extant  manuscripts  is  a  transcript ;  the  expres- 
sions cited  above  in  which  A  is  alone  in  its  fidelity  to  the  Old  French 
contradict  any  such  theory. 

Our  conclusion  must  be,  then,  that  A  goes  back  to  y  independently 
of  all  other  known  manuscripts,  and  that  it  has  had  no  direct  influence 
on  any  other  one  of  them.  In  both  incident  and  phrasing  it  is,  as  will 
appear  below,  nearest  to  Ar,  but  there  is  no  conclusive  evidence  that 
this  nearness  is  traceable  to  any  contamination  of  the  two  manuscripts. 

4.  Ar.  The  Arundel  manuscript,  like  the  Auchinleck,  is  fragmentary, 
but  is  nevertheless  one  of  the  most  important  of  all  the  manuscripts 
that  have  been  preserved.  It  is  probably  a  hundred  years  younger 
than  A,  and  is  upwards  of  fifty  years  younger  than  R ;  yet  in  its  fidelity 
to  y  it  yields  only  to  A,  and  that  only  in  the  body  of  the  stories,  for  in 
the  transitional  parts,  as  has  been  shown,  A  sometimes  abridges  freely. 

E,  B,  and  C  unite  with  Ar  in  retaining  most  of  the  passages  omitted 
by  A,  but  all  three  of  these  manuscripts  exhibit  features  of  their  own 
which  are  obviously  not  traceable  to  y.    E  abridges  often,  as  will  appear 
below;    B  freely  alters  rhyme  and  word-order,  and  sometimes  makes 
changes  in  motif;    while  C  makes  a  number  of  slight  additions  and 
is  otherwise  independent,   at  times,  in  both  phrasing  and  incident. 

F,  though  in  all  probability  very  close  to  y  in  the  second  half,  is  for 
the  first  half  the  most  garbled  of  all  the  Middle  English  manuscripts. 
Ar,  in  contradistinction  to  these,  rarely  has  an  incident  peculiar  to 
itself  or  even  a  couplet,  but  is  almost  invariably  paralleled,  whether  in 
content  or  in  wording,  by  one  or  more  of  the  nearly  related  manuscripts. 
In  the  first  1900  lines  it  adds  only  one  couplet,  11.  1871-1872. 

When  Ar  is  paralleled  by  only  one  other  manuscript,  this  manuscript 
is  usually  A.  Thus  Ar  552,  "I  wyll  become  wode  and  wylde,"  finds 


xlvi  INTRODUCTION 

nothing  closely  corresponding  to  it  in  any  other  text  save  A  (1.  1462), 
which  is  identical  with  it;  so  Ar  668,  "  ]?ane  cam  he  rynnyng  as  a 
lyuarde"  =A  1580,  "And  he  com  als  a  leopard";  Ar  676,  "  Behote 
heme  pens  a  pours  full"  =  A  1588,  "Bihote  hem  pans  an  handfolle"; 
Ar  1518,  "To  loude  J>ou  spake  }>y  Latyn  "  =  A  2396,  "Al  to  loude  thou 
spak  thi  Latin,"  —  none  of  which  find  any  close  correspondence  in  any 
of  the  remaining  manuscripts.  Such  agreements  with  A  go  far  toward 
confirming  the  theory  of  Ar's  nearness  to  y.  Nor  are  certain  agree- 
ments of  Ar  with  E  against  all  other  manuscripts  contradictory  to  this 
theory ;  they  merely  indicate  that  E  is  probably  for  the  passages  con- 
cerned near  to  y. 

As  to  the  relationship  of  Ar  to  other  manuscripts,  it  has  already  been 
shown  that  despite  its  nearness  to  A  it  could  not  have  been  based  on 
A,  since  it  reports  faithfully  certain  passages  which  A  omits.  Neither 
could  it  have  been  based  on  C,  since  Ar  in  various  places  is  nearer  to 
the  Old  French l ;  nor  on  E,  since  Ar  falls  in  with  A,  C,  and  B  in  repro- 
ducing sundry  lines  which  E  discards  (see  below)  ;  nor,  finally,  on  B, 
since  B  was  of  later  composition.  And  that  Ar  was  not  based  on  F,  D, 
or  As  is  too  obvious  to  require  any  demonstration. 

It  is  not  so  easy  to  show  that  some  one  or  more  of  the  manuscripts 
were  not  based  on  Ar,  but  this  would  seem  to  follow  from  the  circum- 
stance that  Ar  exhibits  a  few  features  peculiar  to  itself,  —  for  example, 
the  rhymes  to  11.  171-172,  227-228,  463-464,  etc.,  and  the  spelling 
Julius  and  July  in  Roma  where  all  other  manuscripts  better  preserve 
the  Genus  and  Jenvier  of  the  French. 

5.  E.  The  Egerton  manuscript  is,  happily,  complete,  but  its  value  is 
somewhat  impaired  by  the  rather  frequent  slight  omissions  it  makes. 
Among  single  couplets  omitted  are  the  following :  after  1.  996  (=  C 
1083-1084),  after  1.  1024  (=  C  1111-1112),  after  1.  1400  (=  C  1469- 
1470),  after  1.  1500  (=C  1581-1582),  after  1.  1530  (=  C  1625-1626), 
after  1.  1558  (=  C  1655-1656),  after  1.  1578  (=  C  1679-1680);  and 
after  1.  2472  (=  C  2679-2690)  several  couplets  have  been  lost. 

Except  for  these  omissions,  however,  the  scribe  of  E  adhered  to  his 
original  rather  slavishly.  He  rarely  varied  either  incident  or  rhyme,  as 
appears  clearly  enough  from  the  comparative  table  of  lines  placed  in 

1  See  the  present  editor's  dissertation,  A  Study  of  the  Romance  of  The  Seven 
Sages  of  Rome  with  Special  Reference  to  the  Middle  English  Versions,  Baltimore, 
1898,  p.  56. 


THE  MIDDLE   ENGLISH  VERSIONS  xlvii 

evidence  above.  The  most  striking  variation  is  that  made  just  before 
the  end,  beginning  with  1.  3561,  for  which  see  the  note  on  11.  4325  f. 
of  this  edition. 

E,  then,  must  be  grouped  with  A  and  Ar  as  one  of  the  manuscripts 
nearest  to  y. 

Its  nearest  relationship,  as  the  comparative  table  indicates,  is  with 
Ar ;  its  next  closest  relationship,  with  B.  After  Ar  and  B  it  is  nearest 
to  A.  The  tabular  statistics  given  above  do,  indeed,  seem  to  indicate 
that  E  is  nearer  to  A  than  to  B ;  but  this  seeming  discrepancy  is 
explained  by  the  greater  freedom  exercised  by  B  in  the  change  of 
word-order,  which  affects  rhyme  as  well  as  the  identity  of  the  line 
otherwise.  And  a  comparison  of  incident  and  phrasing  is  conclusive 
in  establishing  a  nearer  relation  to  B.  In  senescalcus,  for  instance, 
where  A,  C,  and  D,  in  agreement  with  the  Old  French,  report  that  the 
king  at  the  beginning  of  the  story  despised  women,  according  to  E,  Ar, 
and  B  he  took  great  delight  in  women.  So  also  there  are  occasional 
couplets  which  are  peculiar  to  E,  Ar,  and  B;  among  them  the  follow- 
ing for  the  first  fifty  lines  :  E  965-968  (=  Ar  17-20,  B  945-948)  and 
E  977-980  (=  Ar  29-32,  B  959-962). 

But  despite  its  nearness  to  Ar,  B,  and  A,  E  cannot  have  been  copied 
from  any  one  of  them.  That  it  was  not  based  on  Ar  is  established  by 
its  preserving  certain  lines  which  Ar  is  alone  in  omitting  (e.g.,  E  987- 
988,  1621-1622,  1809-1810).  That  it  was  not  based  on  B  is  obvious 
from  the  rhyme  evidence  given  in  the  statistical  table.  And  that  it 
was  not  based  on  A  was  demonstrated  under  the  discussion  of  A  by  the 
citation  of  passages  preserved  by  B  but  arbitrarily  omitted  by  A.  The 
deriving  of  E  from  any  other  of  the  Middle  English  manuscripts  is  put 
out  of  the  question  by  the  tabular  evidence  adduced  at  the  outset. 

It  is  also  certain  that  no  other  Middle  English  manuscript  was  based 
on  E.  For  A,  C,  and  D  antedate  E,  while  Ar,  B,  and  F  all  at  some  point 
exhibit  greater  fidelity  to  the  lost  originals.  Perhaps  E  and  B  were 
transcribed  not  directly  from  y,  but  from  a  manuscript  intermediate 
between  them  and  y. 

6.  B.  The  Balliol  manuscript,  next  to  the  Cotton  and  Rawlinson  manu- 
scripts, is  the  fullest  and  longest  of  all  Middle  English  manuscripts,  — 
this,  however,  in  the  main  not  because  of  independent  additions  so 
much  as  because  of  the  avoidance  of  such  curtailments  as  characterize 
A  and  E.    Still  B  does  occasionally  make  independent  additions :  in 


xlviii  INTRODUCTION 

the  first  thousand  lines  of  the  passage  from  which  the  tabular  statistics 
were  drawn  it  has  1 6  couplets  which  do  not  appear  elsewhere ;  and 
occasionally  the  addition  is  of  even  more  moment,  as  in  11.  1693  f., 
where  B  reports  that  the  steward  is  put  to  death  by  pouring  molten 
silver  and  lead  down  his  throat. 

But  the  most  characteristic  feature  of  B  is  the  large  number  of  trifling 
alterations  in  phrasing  and  in  word-order.  This  is  to  be  accounted  for, 
in  part,  by  the  scribe's  effort  to  improve  the  rhythm  of  lines  which, 
owing  to  the  loss  of  inflections,  had  by  the  time  at  which  he  wrote  — - 
the  sixteenth  century  —  become  imperfect;  in  part,  to  a  timid  effort 
to  adjust  the  phraseology  and  word-order  to  the  usage  of  his  time. 

The  relationship  of  B  to  other  manuscripts  is  not  very  obvious.  The 
comparative  table  near  the  beginning  of  this  section  seems  to  indicate 
a  closer  relationship  with  Ar  and  A  than  with  any  other  manuscripts. 
But  a  comparison  on  the  basis  of  slight  omissions  and  additions  tends 
to  contradict  this,  and  points  to  E  as  being  nearest  to  B.  In  almost 
every  instance  in  which  B  agrees  in  an  addition  or  an  omission  with  any 
other  manuscript,  this  manuscript  is  E.  To  be  specific,  there  are  in  the 
first  thousand  lines  of  the  constant  element  in  Y  (=  B  933  f.)  a  total  of 
ten  such  variations,  of  which  nine  are  in  agreement  with  E.  There  are 
also  certain  minor  details  which  B  and  E  have  exclusively  in  common.1 

But  B  was  not  derived  from  E,  since  it  retains  certain  couplets  which 
were  omitted  by  the  scribe  of  E  but  which  are,  except  for  this,  constant 
in  Y.  Among  these  are  B  1007-1008  (=C  1111-1112,  A  1019-1020, 
etc.),  B  1391-1392  (=C  1469-1470,  A  1385-1386),  B  i533-!534 
(=  C  1625-1626,  A  1500-1499),  and  B  1589-1590  (=C  1679-1680, 
A  1549-1550).  That  B  was  not  based  on  either  A  or  Ar  has  already 
been  shown.  That  it  was  not  based  on  any  other  one  of  the  manu- 
scripts is  too  patent  to  justify  an  attempt  at  demonstration. 

That  no  one  of  the  remaining  manuscripts  was  drawn  from  B  is  estab- 
lished by  B's  posteriority  in  date  and  by  the  abundance  of  slight  variations 
(as,  for  instance,  the  additions  mentioned  above)  which  characterize  it. 

7.  F.  Before  entering  upon  a  discussion  of  the  relationship  of  F 
(Cambridge  University  MS.  Ff.  II.  38)  to  other  manuscripts,  it  will  be 
well  to  state  briefly  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  manuscript. 

It  has  been  pointed  out  under  the  brief  description  of  the  Middle 
English  manuscripts  that  the  text  of  F  is  fragmentary,  and  comprises 

1  See  the  present  editor's  Study  of  The  Seven  Sages,  p.  59. 


THE   MIDDLE  ENGLISH   VERSIONS  xlix 

only  a  little  upwards  of  2500  lines.  The  fewness  of  lines  in  F,  how- 
ever, does  not  arise  so  much  from  its  fragmentary  condition  —  for  F 
contains  all  or  parts  of  fifteen  stories  —  as  from  a  radical  abridging  of  the 
first  eleven  stories.  The  introduction  and  the  first  eleven  stories  com- 
prise in  F  only  1439  lines,  while  the  last  four  stories  comprise  1116 
lines,  or  more  than  E  or  B  for  the  corresponding  passages. 

Even  more  noteworthy  than  this  abridgment  of  stories  are  the  sub- 
stitution for  senescalcus  and  Virgilius  of  two  new  stories  (for  which  see 
the  notes  to  11.  1689  f.  and  2159  f.)  and,  coincident  with  this,  a  sweeping 
change  in  the  order  of  stories.  Only  eight  stories  (i,  3,  5,  10,  n,  13, 
14,  15)  retain  their  usual  order;  the  two  new  stories  take  the  places 
(7  and  9)  of  the  stories  they  supplant;  and,  for  the  rest,  2  changes 
place  with  8,  4  with  12,  6  with  2,  8  with  4,  and  12  with  6, —  with  the 
result  that  the  order  of  stories  in  F  is  :  (i)  arbor,  (2)  puteus,  (3)  aper, 
(4)  tentamina,  (5)  gaza,  (6)  vidua,  (7)  The  Riotous  Son,  (8)  canis, 
(9)  The  Squire  and  his  Borrow,  (10)  avis,  (n)  sapientes,  (12)  medi- 
cus,  (13)  Roma,  (14)  inclusa,  (15)  vaticinium. 

In  the  content  of  the  first  eleven  stories,  owing  to  the  compression 
to  which  they  have  been  subjected,  there  are  naturally  many  minor 
variations  from  the  usual  version.  These  are  partly  in  the  nature  of 
omissions;  as  in  arbor  (which  comprises  only  16  lines),  where  no 
mention  is  made  of  the  merchant's  journey,  nor  of  the  trimming  away 
of  the  branches  of  the  old  tree ;  and  in  sapientes,  where  the  account  of 
Merlin's  interpreting  the  stranger's  dream  is  omitted.  There  are  also 
a  number  of  striking  alterations  and  additions.  Thus  aper  deals  with 
a  swineherd  who,  having  lost  one  of  his  flock,  fears  to  return  to  his 
masters,  and  has  climbed- a  tree  and  is  eating  some  acorns  when  the 
wild  boar  comes  up  ;  puteus  substitutes  for  the  curfew  law  a  law  accord- 
ing to  which  any  husband  found  away  from  home  at  night  with  any 
other  woman  than  his  wife  must  be  stoned  to  death ;  tentamina  adds 
a  fourth  trial  of  the  husband,  in  the  killing  of  his  hawk ;  avis  makes 
the  paramour  a  priest,  and  records  that  the  wife  was  put  to  death  by 
her  enraged  husband ;  and  vidua  reports  that  there  was  only  one  thief 
which  the  knight  was  to  watch,  and  adds  to  the  mutilations  of  the 
husband's  corpse  the  cutting  off  of  two  fingers.1 

1  For  a  more  detailed  presentation  of  the  peculiarities  of  F,  see  the  editor's 
Study  of  The  Seven  Sages,  pp.  64-66. 


1  INTRODUCTION 

How  to  account  for  such  freedom  in  F  is  not  at  once  clear.  One 
would  think  of  a  basis  for  the  first  eleven  stories  in  oral  accounts ;  but 
this  is  rendered  extremely  improbable  by  the  fact  that  throughout  this 
part  there  is  frequent  agreement  in  rhyme,  and  now  and  then  agree- 
ment in  whole  lines,  with  other  Middle  English  manuscripts.1  Or, 
again,  it  might  be  supposed  that  F  was  made  from  some  very  fragmen- 
tary manuscript,  but  there  is  no  substantial  basis  for  this  supposition, 
and  the  changed  order  of  stories  is  entirely  against  it.  The  most  plau- 
sible theory  is  that  the  redactor  of  F  had  before  him  a  complete  manu- 
script, which  for  some  reason  —  possibly  to  conceal  his  source  —  he 
arbitrarily  altered  for  the  first  eleven  stones,  and  then,  growing  weary 
of  his  task,  reproduced,  for  the  rest,  practically  what  he  found. 

Accept  this  explanation,  and  the  problem  of  F's  relationship  becomes 
very  simple  ;  for  if  the  variations  of  the  first  part  of  the  text  are  attribu- 
table to  the  scribe. of  F,  this  part  is  of  little  value  for  purposes  of  com- 
parison, and  we  are  accordingly  restricted  to  the  last  part  as  the  basis 
for  investigation. 

For  this  part  F  presents  comparatively  close  textual  agreement  with 
E,  B,  C,  A,  and  Ar  (the  last  two  unhappily  fragmentary  here).  No 
single  important  detail  and  but  a  very  small  percentage  of  the  rhymes 
have  been  changed,  while  lines  identical  with  lines  in  one  or  more  of 
the  rest  of  the  manuscripts  are  numerous.  This  agreement  is  closest 
with  Ar,  and  next  in  order  with  E  ;  thus,  for  the  845  lines  (F  1440-2285) 
which  F,  Ar,  and  E  have  in  common,  F  has  only  5  3  lines  identical  with 
lines  in  E,  but  116  identical  with  lines  in  Ar.  Again,  for  this  section,  F 
preserves  in  agreement  with  Ar  26  couplets  which  do  not  appear  in  E. 
And  there  are  a  few  passages  in  which  F  agrees  only  with  C,  in  some 
of  which  passages,  it  should  be  noted,  F  and  C  are  nearer  to  the  Old 
French  than  are  any  of  the  rest  of  the  Middle  English  manuscripts 
(see  the  note  to  1.  1189).  In  the  light  of  these  agreements  with  C  it 
is  impossible  to  derive  F  from  A,  Ar,  E,  or  B.  Neither  can  we  derive 
F  from  C ;  that  is  precluded  by  the  agreement  of  F  with  Ar  and  other 
manuscripts  where  C  is  free.2  We  must  conclude,  then,  that  F  was 

1  Some  of  the  lines  for  the  first  eleven  stories  of  F,  which  are  identical  with 
lines  in  other  manuscripts  are  5  (—  C  9),  10  (—  B  8),  69  (=  E  61  and  B  69),  133 
(=  A  157),  146  (=  A  176),  151  (=  B  165),  908  (=.  A  2566),  and  1314  (=  A  2355). 

2  See,  for  instance,  the  notes  to  11.  2537-2544,  2595-2600,  3164-3170,  3443- 
3446,  3886-3892,  4009-4012,  4133-4136,  etc. 


THE   MIDDLE  ENGLISH   VERSIONS  li 

based  on  y  independently  of  any  other  extant  manuscript;  and,  con- 
versely, in  view  of  F's  mutilations  of  its  original,  that  no  other  of  the 
extant  Middle  English  manuscripts  was  based  on  it. 

8.  D  (Cambridge  University  MS.  Dd.  I.  17)  is  even  freer  than  F; 
but  unlike  F,  it  is  free  throughout  its  entire  extent. 

Among  the  peculiarities  of  D  are  the  following : 

(i)  The  queen,  known  in  Y  as  Milicent  (or  Ilacent),  is  called  Helie  (or 
Elye) ;  (2)  in  canis,  the  knight,  after  learning  the  truth  about  his  greyhound, 
drowns  himself  in  a  fish  pool  in  his  garden  ;  (3)  in  medicus,  the  barrel  inci- 
dent is  omitted  ;  (4)  likewise,  in  gaza,  the  accounts  of  the  finding  of  the 
headless  body  and  of  the  subsequent  efforts  to  identify  it  are  omitted  ; 
(5)  in  Virgilius,  Merlin  is  substituted  for  Virgil  ;  (7)  in  the  same  story, 
the  entire  first  episode  —  that  of  the  image  with  the  arrow — is  omitted  ; 
(8)  in  sapientes,  the  finding  of  the  child  Merlin  and  the  incident  dependent 
thereon  are  omitted ;  (9)  in  the  same  story,  after  all  the  sages  have  been 
slain  and  the  caldron  is  clear,  Merlin  and  Herod  ride  outside  the  city  gates 
and  Herod  regains  his  sight ;  (10)  in  Roma,  there  are  three  heathen  kings 
instead  of  seven;  (n)  in  vaticinium,i\iQ  father  and  the  son  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  story  are  on  their  way  to  visit  a  hermit  on  an  island  in  the  sea ; 
(12)  in  the  same  story,  the  city  to  which  the  father  comes  in  his  distress  is 
«  Plecie." 

It  was  because  of  such  abundant  deviation  from  the  typical  Middle 
English  version  of  The  Seven  Sages  that  Wright x  and  Petras  2  held  that 
D  had  its  immediate  source  in  some  Old  French  manuscript  and  was 
unrelated  to  any  other  Middle  English  manuscript.  And  this  view  does 
seem  to  derive  some  support  from  the  variations  just  cited,  for  three  of 
the  twelve  features  enumerated  as  peculiar  to  D  among  Middle  English 
manuscripts  are,  nevertheless,  found  in  the  Old  French.  In  explana- 
tion of  these  agreements  with  the  Old  French  it  is  necessary  to  assume 
either  that  D  is  unrelated  to  other  Middle  English  manuscripts  save 
through  the  French,  or  that  it  was  based  on  some  Middle  English 
manuscript  nearer  to-  the  Old  French  than  are  any  of  the  rest  of  the 
Middle  English  manuscripts  known  to  us. 

That  the  latter  of  these  two  theories  is  the  correct  one  is  established, 
I  believe,  by  certain  textual  parallels  between  D  and  the  manuscripts 
belonging  to  group  Y.  Between  A  and  D,  for  example,  there  are,  for 

1  Percy  Society  Publications,  XVI,  p.  Ixviii. 

2  Uber  die  mittelenglischen  Fassimgen,  u.  s.  w.,  pp.  44  f. 


lii 


INTRODUCTION 


the   section  which   the   two  have  in  common,  the  following  parallel 
passages : 


When  on  levede,  anothir  tooke. 

(160) 

By  God,  maister,  I  amnoghtdronken, 
Yf  the  rofe  his  nougt  sonken. 

(209-210) 
Hym  byfel  a  harde  caes. 

(222) 

And  to  have  anothir  wyf, 
For  to  ledde  with  thy  lif. 

(231-232) 

A  good  childe  and  a  faire, 
That  sal  be  oure  bothe  ayere. 
For  sothe,  sire,  I  hold  hym  myn, 
Also  wel  as  thou  dost  thyn. 

(267-270) 

Than  sayd  mayster  Baucillas, 
"  For  soth  this  his  wondir  cas : 
Tharefore  take  counsel  sone 
What  his  best  to  don." 
The  childe  answerd  ther  he  stood, 
"I  wyle  gyf  sou  counsel  good; 
Seven  dayes  I  mot  forbere 
That  I  ne  gyf  no  answere." 

(360-363,  368-371) 
Thus  they  were  at  on  alle, 
And  wenten]agayen  into  the  halle. 

(388-389) 

By  hym  that  made  sone  and  mone, 
He  ne  hade  nevere  with  me  done. 

(464-465) 

Also  mote  bytide  the 
As  dyde  the  fyne  appul-tre. 

(582-583) 

That  knave  kest  hym  fruyt  y-nowe, 
And  clam  a-doune  f  ra  bough  to  boghe. 

(972-973) 

And  rent  hys  wombe  with  the  knyf, 
And  bynam  the  bore  hys  lyf. 

(982-983) 


Whan  o  maister  him   let,    another 
him  tok.  0&9) 

Other  ich  am  of  wine  dronke, 
Other  the  firmament  is  i-sonke. 

(21 1-212) 
Ac  sone  hem  fil  a  ferli  cas. 

(222) 

Ye  libbeth  an  a  lenge  lif : 
Ye  scholde  take  a  gentil  wif. 

(227-228) 

Hit  is  thi  sone,  and  thin  air ; 
A  wis  child,  and  a  fair. 
For  thi  sone  I  tel  mine, 
Alse  wel  als  tou  dost  thine. 

(283-284,  289-290) 
Than  seide  master  Bancillas, 
"  Here  is  now  a  ferli  cas ! 
Counseil  we  al  herupon 
How  that  we  mai  best  don." 
Than  seide  the  schild,  "  Saunz  fail, 
Ich  you  right  wil  counseil. 
This  seven  daies  I  n'el  nowt  speke ; 
Nowt  a  word  of  mi  mowht  breke." 

(371-378) 

With  this  word,  thai  ben  alle 
Departed,  and  comen  to  halle. 

(401-402) 

I  swere  bi  sonne  and  bi  mone 
With  me  ne  hadde  he  neuer  to  done. 

(451-452) 

Ase  wel  mot  hit  like  the 
Als  dede  the  pinnote  tre. 

(543-544) 

He  kest  the  bor  doun  hawes  anowe, 
And  com  himself  doun  bi  a  bowe. 

(921-922) 

The  herd  thous,  with  his  long  knif, 
Biraft  the  bor  of  his  lif. 

(933-934) 


THE    MIDDLE   ENGLISH  VERSIONS 


liii 


"A !  sire,"  quod  mayster  Ancilles, 
"God  almighty  send  us  pees!  " 

(1018-1019) 

That  se  bytyde  swilk  a  cas 
As  bytyde  Ypocras, 
That  slow  hys  cosyn  withouten  gylt 

(1026-1028) 
With  my  lorde  for  to  play. 

(i i oo) 

Oppon  a  day  thay  went  to  pleye, 
He  and  hys  cosyn  thay  twey. 

(n  18-1119) 
And  mad  hym  myry,   and  spendid 

faste, 

Al  the  wylle  that  hit  wolde  laste. 
He  that  lokyd  the  tresour, 
Come  a  day  into  the  tour. 

(1220-1223) 
Bot  hastilich  smyt  of  my  hede. 

(1255) 

Byfore  the  dore,  as  I  sow  telle, 
Thare  was  a  mykyl  deppe  welle. 

(1381-1382) 

To  do  thy  wyl  by  a-night, 
Yf  I  schal  helle  the  aryght. 

(1546-1547) 

Now  he  slakys  to  lygge  above  ; 
I  wyl  have  another  love. 

(1686-1687) 

Er  the  myrrour  be  broght  a-doune, 
And  than  gyf  us  oure  warrysoun. 

(1906-1907) 
And    dolvyn    a    lytyl   withinne    the 

grounde, 
And  the  tresour  was  sone  founde. 

(1952-1953) 

The  ton  sayed,  "  Sire  emperour, 
Undir  the  pyler  that  berys  merour." 

(2002-2003) 


A 

Than  saide  maister  Ancilles, 
"  For  Codes  loue,  sire,  hold  thi  pes !" 
(977-978) 

On  the  falle  swich  a  cas 
Als  nl  on  Ypocras,  the  gode  clerk, 
That  slow  his  neveu  with  fals  werk. 
(994-996) 
With  mi  louerd  for  to  plai. 

(1083) 

So  bifel  upon  a  dai 
He  and  his  neveu  yede  to  plai. 

(1113-1114) 

And  beren  hit  hom  wel  on  hast, 
And  maden  hem  large  whiles  hit  last. 
Amorewe  aros  that  sinatour, 
And  sichen  to-bregen  his  louerdes 
tour. 

(1265-1268) 
And  hastiliche  gird  of  min  heued. 

(1299) 

But  thou  me  in  lete,  ich  wille  telle, 
Ich  wille  me  drenchen  in  the  welle. 

(1463-1464) 

Haue  womman  to  pleie  aright, 
Yif  ye  wil  be  hoi  aplight. 

(1577-1578) 

Ich  moste  have  som  other  love  ! 
Nai,  dowter,  for  God  above  ! 

(1753-1754) 

Who  might  that  ymage  fel  adoun, 
He  wolde  him  yif  his  warisoun. 

(2029-2030) 

And  ther  thai  doluen  in  the  gronde  ; 
A  riche  forcer  ther  thai  founde. 

(2079-2080) 

Than  saide  the  elder  to  the  empe- 
rour, 

"  Under  the    ymage  that   halt    the 
mirour."  (2091  -2092) 


liv 


INTRODUCTION 


"  Gladlich,"  sayed  scho, 

"  The  bettyr  yf  hyt  wylle  bee." 

(2287-2288) 
And  hadde  seven  clerkys  wyse. 

(2293) 

Who  so  anny  swevene  by  nyght, 
O  morne  when  the  day  was  bryght. 

(2296-2297) 

Hyt  was  a  knyght,  a  riche  schyreve, 
That  was  lot  hys  wyf  to  greve. 
He  sate  a  daye  by  hys  wyf, 
And  in  hys  honde  helde  a  knyf. 

(2471-2474) 

Bot  sayed  for  non  worldlys  wyne 
Schulde  no  man  parte  horn  a-twyne. 

(2487-2488) 

In  hyr  hoond  scho  took  a  stoon, 
And  knockyd  out  twa  teth  anoon ! 

(2601-2602) 


Bletheliche,  sire,  so  mot  ich  the, 
So  that  ye  wolde  the  better  be. 

(2337-2338) 
He  hadde  with  him  seuen  wise. 

(2343) 
That    who    that    mette    a    sweven 

anight, 

He  scholde  come  amorewe,  aplight. 

(2349-2350) 

"  Sire,"  he  saide,  "  thou  might  me 

leue, 

Hit  was  a  knight,  a  riche  scherreue. 
So,  on  a  dai,  him  and  his  wif 
Was  i-youen  a  newe  knif . " 

(2563-2564,  2569-2570) 

The  leuedi  saide,  for  no  wenne, 

Sche  ne  wolde  neuer  wende  thenne. 

(2581-2582) 

"  Than  wil  ich,"  she  saide,  and  tok  a 

ston, 
And  smot  hem  out  euerichon. 

(2713-2714)! 


Some  of  these  agreements  are,  in  all  probability,  merely  accidental, 
but  not  all  of  them ;  it  is  highly  improbable  that  two  independent  trans- 
lations should  have,  in  a  total  of  2500  lines,  four  lines  identical  and 
upwards  of  forty  similar  rhymes.2 

In  the  light  of  these  agreements,  then,  and  in  view  of  the  rarity  and 
insignificance  of  the  situations  which  D  has  in  common  with  the  French 
as  against  the  remaining  Middle  English  manuscripts,  it  can  hardly  be 
held  that  D  represents  an  independent  translation  from  the  Old  French. 
The  evidence  adduced  seems  to  warrant  no  other  conclusion  than  that 

1  For  a  fuller  list  of  such  textual  parallels  between  D  and  A,  and  for  a  partial 
list  of  the  parallels  between  D  and  E,  see  the  editor's  Study  of  The  Seven  Sages, 
pp.  78  f. 

2  That  is,  one  similar  rhyme  out  of  every  thirty  couplets.    The  percentage  is 
much  larger  for  the  first  hundred  lines  of  D :  a  comparison  of  D  with  E  for  these 
lines  shows  one  identical  line  and  eight  similar  rhymes,  or  one  similar  rhyme  to 
six  couplets. 


THE    MIDDLE   ENGLISH   VERSIONS  Iv 

D  and  Y  have  a  common  Middle  English  source,  a  manuscript  now  long 
since  lost.1 

This  source  could  hardly  have  been  y,  since  the  manuscripts  compos- 
ing Y  differ  but  slightly  despite  the  fact  that  each  of  them  goes  back 
to  its  source  independently  of  all  other  members  of  the  group.  Conse- 
quently we  must  assume  for  D  and  y  a  basis  in  one  and  the  same  Middle 
English  translation  of  the  French,  a  manuscript  which  I  designate  as  x. 

9.  As.  The  relationship  of  the  Asloan  MS.  to  other  English  manu- 
scripts is  even  more  difficult  to  determine  than  is  that  of  D.  For  As, 
while  it  agrees  in  a  number  of  instances  with  the  Old  French  as  against 
the  remaining  Middle  English  manuscripts,  exhibits  an  even  larger 
number  of  situations  in  which  it  differs  from  both  Middle  English  and 
Old  French  :  it  is,  in  brief,  the  most  free  of  all  the  English  manuscripts. 

A  comparison  with  other  Middle  English  manuscripts  and  the  Old 
French  L  (A*),  K,  D*,  and  H,  made  on  the  basis  of  the  first  600  lines, 
reveals  the  following  details  peculiar  to  As  : 

(i)  The  Queen  dies  when  the  Prince  is  three  years  old  ;  (2)  the  sages 
are  introduced  in  the  following  order,  their  names  being  spelled  as  indicated  : 
Bantillas,  Aunxullus,  Lentalus,  Catone,  Malcome,  Ampustinus,  Cratone  ; 
(3)  the  sages  call  together  masons  and  have  them  build,  the  hall  in  which 
the  Prince  is  to  be  taught;  (4)  the  Emperor,  when  he  is  advised  by  his 
barons  to  marry  again,  says  that  he  is  already  old  and  that  marriage  might 
shorten  his  life;  (5)  Bantillas  accompanies  the  Prince  to  court;  (6)  as 
soon  as  it  develops  that  the  Prince  will  not  speak  at  all,  the  Emperor  asks 
Bantillas  if  the  child  has  become  dumb,  to  which  Bantillas  replies  that  he 
spoke  well  enough  that  morning  ;  (8)  the  burgess  in  arbor  is  called  Cornele  ; 
(9)  Bantillas,  in  the  introduction  to  cam's,  reminds  the  Emperor  that  the 
Prince's  offense  is  not  by  Rome's  laws  a  capital  offense,  since  the  Queen 
was  not  a  maid. 

The  same  600  lines  have  no  details  in  which  As  agrees  with  the 
Middle  English  against  the  Old  French,  but  they  have  the  following 
details  in  which  As  agrees  with  the  French  as  against  the  rest  of  the 
Middle  English  manuscripts  : 

(i)  The  Emperor  seals  the  message  he  sends  to  the  sages  with  his  own 
ring  (not  in  A*,  K,  and  D*,  but  in  H)  ;  (2)  the  Prince,  on  approaching  the 

1  The  agreement  of  D  with  the  Old  French  as  against  all  the  members  of  group 
Y  precludes,  of  course,  the  deriving  of  D  from  any  of  the  extant  Middle  English 
manuscripts. 


Ivi  INTRODUCTION 

royal  palace,  bows  courteously,  but  is  silent ;  the  Emperor  conducts  him 
to  a  hall  of  state  and  asks  him  how  he  is  pleased  with  the  sages  ;  (3)  the 
Empress,  on  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  the  Prince,  fits  herself  out  in  royal 
manner  and  proceeds,  accompanied  by  her  maids,  to  the  hall  of  state; 
(4)  arrived  at  the  hall  of  state,  the  Empress  learns  of  the  child's  persistent 
silence  ; l  she  asks  that  she  be  allowed  to  try  to  make  him  speak,  and  so 
leads  the  Prince  away,  against  his  will,  to  her  chamber ;  (5)  in  arbor,  the 
fruit  of  the  pine  refreshes  the  people  of  the  city  ;  and  when  the  burgess  has 
the  pine  cut  down  the  people  lament  that  he  has  been  so  great  a  fool  (this, 
as  (i),  only  in  H)  ;  (6)  the  knight  in  canis,  at  the  end  of  the  story,  breaks 
his  spear  in  pieces,  renounces  all  joy  in  arms,  and  goes  to  the  Holy  Land. 

Such  agreements  with  the  Old  French  quite  establish  that  As  was 
not  based  on  any  other  of  the  extant  Middle  English  manuscripts  or  on 
the  lost  y.  They  do  not,  to  be  sure,  prove  that  As  was  not  ultimately 
based  on  x  (the  common  source,  posited  above,  of  y  and  D),  but  they 
beget  a  strong  prejudice  in  favor  of  that  view.  In  truth,  in  the  light  of 
the  frequency  of  the  exclusive  agreements  with  the  French,  I  should  not 
hesitate  to  assert  that  As  was  surely  an  independent  translation  from 
the  French,  were  there  not  (as  in  the  case  of  D)  a  few  lines  in  As  which 
find  rather  close  parallels  in  some  of  the  manuscripts  comprised  in  Y. 
These  lines  are  for  the  first  600  lines  of  As  the  following,  C  being  used 
as  the  representative  of  Y  : 

As  C 

Within  na mar  space  than  sevyneseir.      Within  )>e  terme  of  seuyn  ger^. 

(36)  (64) 

That  I  sail  him  all  science  leir,  ...        I  sal  him  lerc  ful  right  and  rath 
That  I  haf  and  my  fellouis  baith.  J?at  I  can  and  mi  felous  bath. 

Than  rais  the  secound  sage  full  raith.  (73-74) 

(35,  37-38) 

1  The  agreement  here  with  the  Old  French  is  very  striking.  As  (212-217)  reads : 

Scho  said :  "  My  Lord,  is  this  your  child  1 " 

"  3a,"  he  said,  "  hot  he  is  exild 

Fra  speche,  that  na  word  speke  may  he." 

Than  said  scho :  "  He  sail  ga  with  me 

To  chalmer  or  we  twa  disseuer ; 

He  sail  speike  anys  and  he  speke  euer," 

which  is  a  pretty  close  paraphase  of  L  (A*)  at  this  point  (p.  10)  :  "  Sire,  fait  elle, 
est  ce  vostre  filz  ?  Oil,  fet  li  empereres,  mes  il  ne  parole  mie.  Sire,  s'il  onques 
parla,  bailliez  le  moi,  je  le  ferai  parler." 


THE   MIDDLE   ENGLISH  VERSIONS 


Ivii 


(95) 


As 

Under  ilk  nuke  of  his  bed. 


Than  counsall  gaf  Bantillas. 


That  I  haf  kepit  my  madinhed. 

(235) 

Quhill   the   grew-hound    the    edder 
sleuch. 

(442) 

In  this  cuntre  nocht  fer  heir  west 
Sumtyme  ther  stude  a  fair  forest. 

(524-525) 

And  with  his  nalis  and  with  his  tuskis 
So  rudly  at  the  rute  he  ruskis. 

(544-545) 
That  first  he  wynkit,  syne  fell  on 

slepe  ; 
Tharto  the  herd  tuke  grathly  kepe. 

(562-563) 


Vnder  ilka  corner  of  >e  bed. 

(221) 

J>an  spak  Maister  Bausillas. 

(457;  see  also  A  371) 
Haue  I  keped  my  maydenhed. 

(512  ;  see  also  A  460) 
At  J>e  last  >e  grehund  >e  neder  slogh. 

(843) 

Sir,  a  litel  here  by  west 
Was  su//ztime  a  faire  forest. 

(963-964  ;  see  also  A  881-882) 
T?e  bare  for  tene  J>an  whet  his  tuskes, 
Andvtroi  )>e  erth  vp  al  in  buskes. 

(991-992) 

He  closed  his  yen  als  he  wald  slepe, 
hird  J>an  toke  gude  kepe. 

(1013-1014) 


It  may  be  that  these  agreements  are  to  be  traced,  as  with  D,  to  a 
development  of  As  from  x,  but  I  think  not ;  they  are,  in  my  judgment, 
merely  accidental  agreements  growing  out  of  the  sameness  of  the 
Middle  English  romancers'  vocabulary. 

Authorship.  —  Concerning  the  authorship  of  the  Middle  English  ver- 
sions nothing  of  moment  is  known.  A  colophon l  to  B  does  ascribe  that 
text  to  one  Richard  Hill,2  but  this  ascription  doubtless  signifies  nothing 
more  than  that  Richard  Hill  was  the  scribe  of  the  manuscript  whence 
B  was  copied,  or  that  he  was  the  redactor  of  the  B  text.  Interesting  is 
the  conjecture  of  Kolbing8  that  A  was  written  by  the  author  of  the 

1  This  colophon  reads  as  follows :  "  Thus  endith  of  the  vii.  sages  of  Rome 
which  was  drawen  owt  of  crownycles  and  owt  of  wrytyng  of  old  men  and  many  a 
notable  tale  is  ther  in  as  ys  beff ore  sayde.  —  Quod  Richard  Hill." 

2  Just  who  this  Richard  Hill  was  I  have  been  unable  to  find  out.    From  article 
31   of  the   manuscript   we   learn  that  he  was   "hansed"   at  Barow  in  1508,  at 
"  Briguis  "  in  1511,  and  at  Antwerp  in  the  same  year;  also  that  he  was  made  free 
of  the  merchant  adventurers  of  England  at  Barow,  May  25,  1508  ;  and  that  he  was 
sworn  at  Grocers'  Hall,  November  10,  1511.    But  further  than  this  I  have  been 
unable  to  learn  anything.          s  Altenglische  Bibliothek,  Leipzig,  1890,  IV,  p.  civ. 


Iviii  INTRODUCTION 

Kentish  versions  of  Arthour  and  Merlin,  Alisaunder,  and  Richard 
Coer  de  Lion,  but  his  conjecture  has  no  tangible  support.  Quite  as 
interesting,  but  also  quite  as  valueless,  is  the  ascription,  on  a  fly-leaf  of 
the  Rawlinson  manuscript,1  of  the  R  text  (then  also,  of  necessity,  the 
C  text)  to  Richard  Rolle  of  Hampole.  There  is  no  evidence  that  the 
pious  Yorkshire  monk  ever  had  any  literary  connection  with  The  Seven 
Sages  of  Rome.  Other  references  to  authorship  are  lacking.  The  nature 
of  the  framework  and  stories  might  be  thought  of  as  favoring  lay  author- 
ship for  the  parent  version,  but  it  does  not  by  any  means  establish  it.2 
Until  other  manuscripts  are  brought  to  light  or  other  sources  of  infor- 
mation are  discovered,  we  must  remain  in  ignorance  as  to  the  author- 
ship of  the  Middle  English  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages. 

Place  and  Date  of  Composition.  —  The  place  of  composition  of  the 
manuscripts  that  have  survived  is  presumably  indicated  by  the  dialect 
of  these  manuscripts ;  that  is,  for  C  and  R  the  north  of  England  (York- 
shire probably),8  for  A,  Ar,  and  E  Kent,  for  B  and  F  the  south  of  Eng- 
land (perhaps  Kent),  for  D  the  southeast  Midland,  and  for  As  Scotland. 
As  for  the  lost  manuscripts,  y  was  almost  assuredly  written  in  Kent, 
since  all  but  one  of  the  manuscripts  derived  from  it  are  either  in  the 
Kentish  dialect  or  show  a  Kentish  influence ;  x,  the  parent  of  all  the 
known  Middle  English  manuscripts  save  As,  also  probably  belonged  to 
Kent,  since  all  circumstantial  evidence  favors  the  view  that  y  represents 
x  much  more  closely  than  does  D.  It  should  be  added  that  it  is  just 
those  manuscripts — A,  Ar,  and  E  —  which  reflect  the  Old  French  most 
faithfully  that  are  most  obviously  Kentish  in  dialect. 

The  time  of  composition  of  the  Middle  English  manuscripts  is  prob- 
ably, with  one  exception,  roughly  indicated  by  the  handwriting  of  the 
manuscripts.4  The  one  exception  is  C,  which,  although  written  in  a  hand 
of  the  first  third  of  the  fifteenth  century,  was  composed  not  later  than 

1  On  the  verso  of  the  paper  fly-leaf  at  the  beginning  of  the  volume  ;  in  a  much 
later  hand  than  that  of  the  manuscript  proper.    It  is  a  list  of  the  contents  of  the 
volume,  to  which  is  added  the  following  :  "  All  writ  by  Richard  Role  or  Hampole 
a  native  of  Hampole  near  Doncaster  in  Yorkshire  where  he  died  in  among  the 
Cistercian  nuns  An0.  Dom.  1349." 

2  Indeed,  Ritson  believed  the  redactor  of  C  was  most  likely  a  monk  (see  his 
Ancient  Engleish  Metrical  Romancees,  London,  1802,  III,  p.  229). 

8  See  the  detailed  consideration  of  the  dialect  of  C  given  below,  pp.  Ixiii  f. 
4  These  dates  have  been  given  above  (pp.  xxxvii  f.)  in  the  formal  description 
of  each  of  the  manuscripts. 


THE   MIDDLE   ENGLISH   VERSIONS  lix 

the  middle  of  the  preceding  century.  For  determining  the  date  of  y,  A 
is  of  most  importance.  This  manuscript  dates  from  about  the  year 
1320,  so  that  y  must  have  been  written  before  that  date  —  in  the  first 
years  of  the  fourteenth  century  probably.  If  we  assume  for  y  a  dating 
about  1300,  we  must  assume  forx,  whence  y  and  D  were  derived,  an  even 
earlier  dating;  about  the  year  1275  is,  I  feel,  a  conservative  guess. 

Source.  —  The  source  of  the  Middle  English  versions 1  was  some  form 
of  the  Old  French  version  A*,  manuscripts  of  which  have  been  published 
by  Plomp,  De  Middelnederlandsche  Bewerking  van  het  gedicht  van  den 
VII  Vroeden,  pp.  1-51,  and  (in  part,  with  variants  from  L  for  the  rest) 
by  Leroux  de  Lincy,  Roman  des  Sept  Sages,  pp.  79-103.  All  the  Middle 
English  manuscripts  save  F  (which,  despite  its  freedoms,  was  derived 
from  the  typical  Middle  English  form  of  the  story)  preserve  the  same 
order  of  stories  as  that  of  A*,  and  all  except  F,  D,  and  As,  which  are 
very  free  at  times,  agree  pretty  closely  with  A*  in  content.  All  other 
Old  French  versions  differ  from  the  Middle  English  type  in  the  order 
of  stories,  and  are  likewise  further  removed  from  it  than  is  A*  in  the 
content  of  stories  and  of  the  framework. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  both  x  and  As  were  in  verse,  one  would 
incline  to  look  for  a  source  for  them  also  in  verse,  but  there  is  no  sub- 
stantial evidence  that  there  ever  existed  a  metrical  form  of  A*.  Still  it 
must  be  observed  that  neither  of  the  manuscripts  of  A*  which  have 
been  published  preserves  faithfully  the  form  from  which  the  Middle 
English  versions  were  derived,  for  there  are  a  few  details  in  which  the 
Middle  English  manuscripts  agree  with  other  Old  -French  versions  as 
against  A*.  The  chief  among  these  is  the  incident  in  Virgilius  of  the 
images  cast  by  Virgil  for  the  east  and  west  gates  of  Rome,  an  incident 
which  is  related  by  K  (11.  3960  f.)  and  D*  (p.  41),  but  which  does  not 
appear  in  the  printed  manuscripts  of  A*.  Less  important  details  in 
which  x  is  nearer  to  other  French  versions  than  to  A*  as  printed  are 
pointed  out  in  the  notes  to  11.  2106-2108  and  2111-2112. 

1  The  problem  of  the  source  of  the  Middle  English  versions  has  been  worked 
out  by  Petras,  Uber  die  mittelenglischen  Fassungen,  u.  s.  TV.,  pp.  31  f. ;  see  also  the 
present  editor's  Study  of  the  Seven  Sages,  pp.  87  f . 


Ix  INTRODUCTION 

II.     LATER  ENGLISH  VERSIONS 

The  later  English  versions  include  (i)  the  translation  printed  by 
Wynkyn  de  Worde,  (2)  an  edition  by  William  Copland  (now  lost),  (3)  a 
metrical  version  by  John  Rolland,  (4)  a  dramatic  version  by  Dekker, 
Chettle,  Haughton,  and  Day  (probably  never  printed),  and  (5)  a  large 
number  of  later  prose  versions  derived  from  the  Wynkyn  de  Worde 
text.1  These  constitute  a  distinct  .group,  in  no  way  related  with  the 
Middle  English  versions  except  very  indirectly  through  different,  though 
distantly  related,  Old  French  sources. 

i.  The  translation  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde  is  in  prose.  Its  date 
is  not  definitely  known.  A  penciling  in  the  British  Museum  copy  —  the 
only  copy  known  to  exist  now  —  places  the  date  conjecturally  in  the 
year  1505,  but  in  the  British  Museum  Catalogue  the  date  is  given  con- 
jecturally as  1515.  A  reprint  of  the  British  Museum  copy  was  made  by 
L.  Gomme  for  the  Villon  Society  in  i885.2 

The  British  Museum  copy  is  in  black  letter ;  it  is  without  pagination, 
but  comprises  81  leaves.  It  begins  as  follows:  "Here  begynneth 
thystorye  of  J>e  -vn-  Wyse  Maysters  of  rome  conteynynge  ryghe  fayre 
&  ryght  ioyous  narraczons  &  to  fe  reder  ryght  delectable."  The  text 

1  According  to  Clouston  there  should  also  be  included  here  another  metrical 
version  of   The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  by  one  Robert  Brenant.    Clouston  says 
(The Book  of  Sindibdd,  p.  356) :  "  The  Bodleian  Library,  Oxford,  has  ...  a  curious 
metrical  version  entitled :  Sage  and  prudente  Saynges  of  the  Seven  wyse  Men,  by 
Robert  Brenant,  with   a  comment,  London,  1553,  small  8vo,  black  letter."    A 
diligent  hunt  through  the  catalogues  of  the  Bodleian  Library,  in  which  I  was 
generously  aided  by  several  officials  of  that  library,  brought  no  confirmation  of 
this  assertion.    It  seems  that  Clouston  has  been  led  astray  by  Hazlitt,  who  cata- 
logued in  his  Handbook,  pp.  660  f.  (London,  1867),  under  the  same  heading  with 
sundry  authentic  editions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  a  work  of  the  same  title 
as  that  cited  by   Clouston,   but  by  a  Robert  Burrant  rather  than  by   Robert 
Brenant.    A  copy  of  Burrant's  book  is  preserved  in  the   British  Museum,  and 
bears  the  title,   The  sage  and  prudent  saiynges  of  the  seuen  ivisemen,   with  the 
imprint,  London,  1553.    Examination  of  this  work  reveals  that  it  has  no  connec- 
tion whatever  with  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  but  is  really  a  version  of  The  Seven 
Sages  of  Greece  or  Dicta  septem  sapientum  Graeciae,    It  should  be  added  that  this 
piece  of  composition  is  not  at  all,  as  Clouston  reports,  in  verse,  but  is  bald  and 
dull  enough  prose. 

2  The  History  of  the  Seven  Wise  Masters  of  Rome,  London,  1885.    A  few  pages 
missing  in  the  British  Museum  copy  the  editor  supplied  from  the   1671  prose 
derivative  described  below. 


LATER  ENGLISH  VERSIONS  Ixi 

proper  begins :  "  Somtyme  in  ]?e  Cyte  of  Rome  was  an  Emperour 
named  Poncianus  a  man  of  grete  wysdome."  The  colophon  is  as 
follows  :  "  Thus  endeth  the  treatyse  of  the  seuen  sages  or  wyse  maysters 
of  Rome.  Enprented  in  Flete  strete  in  ]?e  sygne  of  the  sone.  by  me 
Wynkyn  de  worde." 

The  Wynkyn  de  Worde  edition  was  translated  by  an  anonymous 
translator  from  some  member  of  the  Historia  family,  probably  one  of 
the  Latin  prints  rather  than  the  Old  French  translation.  As  a  transla- 
tion of  H  it  is  comparatively  close,  though  it  abridges  at  times  and 
also  occasionally  makes  independent  additions.1 

2.  No  copy  of  the  Copland  edition  has  survived  so  far  as  is  known,2 
but  a  copy  of  it  was  in  existence  less  than  a  hundred  years  ago  if  the 
bibliographers  are  to  be  relied  on.  According  to  Dibdin,3  Ritson  pos- 
sessed a  copy,  which,  according  to  some,  he  had  secured  from  Baynes. 
Dibdin  further  reports  a  memorandum  by  Ritson  giving  the  introduc- 
tory lines  and  the  colophon  of  his  copy.  The  introductory  lines  are, 
except  for  slight  variations  in  spelling,  the  same  as  those  quoted  above 
as  introducing  the  text  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde.  The  colophon  likewise 
is  very  close  to  that  of  de  Worde's  edition ;  it  runs  as  follows  :  "  Thus 
endeth  the  treatyse  of  the  seuen  sages  or  wyse  Maysters  of  Rome. 
Imprinted  at  London  in  Flete  strete  at  the  sygne  of  the  Rose  Garland, 
by  me  William  Copland."  Such  close  agreement  between  the  two  here 
establishes  a  very  strong  probability  that  the  Copland  edition  was  no 
more  than  a  reprint  of  the  earlier  edition.4  The  date  of  the  Copland 


1  See  Buchner,  Die  Historia  Septem  Sapientum  nach  der  Innsbmcker  Handschrift 
v.J.  1342,  nebst  einer  Untersuchung  iiber  die  Quelle  des  Seuin  Seages  des  Johne 
Rollandvon  Dalkeith,  in  Erlanger  Beitr.,  V,  p.  95,  note,  Erlangen  and  Leipzig,  1889. 

2  Clouston,  The  Book  of  Sindibad,  p.  236,  asserts  that  a  copy  is  "  preserved  in 
the  Glasgow  University  Library";    but  later,  on  p.  355,  he  contradicts  this. — 
Keller,  Sept  Sages,  p.  Ixxx,   confounds  the  Copland  print  with  a  Caxton  print 
variously  entitled  Treatyse  of  the  Seven  Points  of  Love,  Ghostly  Matters,  and  Oro- 
logium  Sapientiae,  a  treatise  quite  different  from  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  (see 
Blade's  Catalogue,  p.  20,  and  Buchner,  I.e.,  pp.  96  f.). 

3  Typographical  Antiqtiities,  London,  1816,  III,  p.  170. 

4  Douce,  however,  in  a  note  on  a  fly-leaf  of  the  Bodleian  copy  of  the   1653 
edition  of  The  Seven  Sages,  asserts  that  the  edition  of  1693  (a  c°Py  °f  which  is  in 
the  British  Museum)  was  a  reprint  of  the  Copland  edition,  in  which  case  we  must 
conclude  that  Copland's  edition  differed  somewhat  from  that  of  de  Worde  in 
phrasing. 


Ixii  INTRODUCTION 

edition  is  not  known,  but  the  bibliographical  authorities  place  it  be- 
tween 1548  and  1561. 

3.  The  metrical  version  by  John  Rolland  of  Dalkeith  is  in  the  Scottish 
dialect ;   its  metrical  form  is  the  heroic  couplet.    The  original  edition 
bears  the  date  I578,1  but  the  colophon  gives  the  date  as  1560,  and 
Laing,  who  has  published  a  reprint  of  it,2  has  rightly  concluded8  that 
1560  is  the  date  of  the  composition  of  the  poem.    The  Rolland  version 
seems  to  have  been  very  popular  in  its  day,  passing  through  at  least 
seven  editions  (1590,  1592  [two  editions],  1599, 1606,  1620,  and  1631) 
in  little  more  than  half  a  century  after  its  first  appearance.    It  does  not 
possess,  however,  any  considerable  literary  worth. 

Sundry  conjectures  have  been  made  as  to  the  source  whence  Rolland 
drew.  Laing  held  that  he  used  either  the  Copland  print,  or  some  Latin 
or  Old  French  text  of  H.  Petras,  who  did  not  know  of  the  edition  by 
Wynkyn  de  Worde,  considered  the  question  at  some  length,4  and  con- 
cluded in  favor  of  the  Old  French  translation  of  H 5  as  Rolland's  original. 
But  that  neither  of  these  views  is  correct,  and  that  the  Rolland  version 
was  the  rather  based  on  the  edition  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  has  been 
conclusively  proved  by  Buchner  in  his  dissertation6  referred  to  above. 
This  he  established  by  showing  that  where  there  are  differences  between 
H  (either  Latin  or  French),  the  Wynkyn  de  Worde  version,  and  the 
Rolland  version,  the  last  two  versions  are  in  almost  every  instance  in 
accord  with  each  other.  Buchner  cites  a  large  number  of  textual  parallels 
between  the  two  English  versions  in  further  support  of  this  conclusion. 

4.  The  dramatic  version  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  has  been  lost. 
Henslowe  tells  us  that  it  was  acted  in  London  in  March,  1599-1600, 

1  This  edition  was  published  under  the  following  title :     The  seuin  Seages : 
Translatit  out  of  prois  in  Scottis  meter  be  lohne  Rolland  in  Dalkeith. 

2  D.  Laing,  The  Seven  Sages  in  Scottish  Meter  by  John  Rolland  of  Dalkeith, 
published  for  the  Bannatyne  Club,  Edinburgh,  1837.    A  new  edition  under  the 
editorship  of  George  F.  Black  is  promised  by  the  Early  English  Text  Society. 
—  W.  A.  Shaw,  in  the  sketch  of  Rolland's  life  in    The  Dictionary  of  National 
Biography,  erroneously  asserts  that  the  1578  edition  was  also  "reproduced  in 
Sibbald's  Chronicle  of  Scottish  Poetry"  ;  in  reality  only  48  lines  of  the  poem  appear 
there  (J.  Sibbald,  Chronicle  of  Scottish  Poetry,  Edinburgh,  1802,  III,  pp.  285-287). 

3  P.  xiii.  4  See  his  dissertation,  pp.  47  f. 

6  The  second  of  the  texts  published  by  Gaston  Paris,  Deux  Redactions,  pp.  55- 
205. 

<>  Pp.  93  f. 


LATER  ENGLISH   VERSIONS  Ixiii 

but  there  is  no  evidence  that  it  was  ever  printed.  The  following  re- 
ceipt, signed  "  W  birde,"  appears  in  Henslowe's  Diary  under  the  date 
March  i,  I5991:  "  Receavd  of  mr  hinchlow  the  i  of  march  to  paye  to 
harry  chettell  Thomas  decker  william  hawton  &  John  daye  for  a  boocke 
called  the  7  wise  mrs  the  some  of  xi8 ".  Three  other  entries2  under  the 
same  date  record  three  other  payments  —  of  ^38  in  all  —  for  the  ex- 
penses of  bringing  out  the  play.  And  there  are  further  entries  for 
March  2  and  March  25  of  the  same  year.  According  to  J.  O.  Halliwell 3 
Haughton  was  chiefly  responsible  for  the  play,  the  rest — Chettle, 
Dekker,  and  Day  —  merely  assisting  him  in  his  undertaking.  Other 
information  concerning  the  dramatic  version  of  The  Seven  Sages  I  have 
sought  for  in  vain. 

5.  The  number  of  later  English  prose  versions  is  large.  Copies  of 
the  following  prints  are  found  either  in  the  British  Museum  or  in  the 
Bodleian  Library  or  in  Harvard  College  Library  :  — 

(1)  "  The  history  of  the  seven  wise  masters  of  Rome.    Printed  by  J.  C. 
for  E.  Blackmore,  and  are  to  be  sold  at  his  shop  at  the  Angell  in  St.  Paul's 
Churchyard.    London,  1653."    8°;  pp.  188.     [Bodleian.] 

(2)  "  The  History  of  the  Seven   Wise  Masters  of  Rome.    Now  newly 
Corrected  better  Explained  in  many  places  and  enlarged  with  many  pretty 
Pictures  etc.    London,  Printed  for  John  Wright,  next  to  the  Globe  in  Little- 
Brittain,  1671."    8°;  pp.  176.     [British  Museum.]4 

(3)  The  same.     "  London,  Printed  by  E.  Crowh,  for  J.  Wright,  next  to 
the  Globe  in  Little-Brittain,  1673."     16°;  pp.  164.     [Harvard.] 

(4)  The  same.    "  London,  Printed  for  J.  Wright,  at  the  Crown  on  Lud- 
gate  Hill,  1684."     12°.     [British  Museum.] 

(5)  The  same.     "  Licensed  to   be  Re-printed    Rich.    Pocock.     London, 
Printed  for  M.  Wotton,  and   G.  Conyers,  at  the  three  Pigeons  in  Fleet- 
street,  and    at   the    Golden  Ring  on    Ludgate-Hill.     1687."    8°.     [British 
Museum.] 

1  Henslowe's  Diary,  ed.  W.  W.  Greg,  1904,  I,  p.  118  ;  ed.  J.  P.  Collier,  London, 
1845,  P-  l65- 

2  Pp.  118-119,  Greg;  p.  167,  Collier. 

SA  Dictionary  of  Old  English  Plays,  London,  1860,  p.  224. 

4  There  is  in  Harvard  College  Library  an  imperfect  edition  of  this  type  (16°, 
88  leaves,  printed  by  J.  Wright),  which,  according  to  its  title-page,  was  printed  in 
1625.  But  W.  C.  Lane,  Catalogue  of  English  and  American  Chap-books  and 
Broadside  Ballads  in  Harvard  College  Library,  Cambridge,  1905,  p.  33,  suggests 
that  the  date  is  fictitious,  and  he  is  almost  surely  right. 


Ixiv  INTRODUCTION 

(6)  The  same.     "  Newly  corrected  and  better  explained  in  many  places. 
Glasgow,   By  Robert    Sanders,   one  of   their  Majesties   Printers.     1693." 
8°.     [British  Museum.] 

(7)  The  same  except  for  rare  changes  in  spelling  and  capitalization. 
"  Now  newly  corrected,  &  better  Explained  in  many  Places  etc.    London : 
Printed  by  J.  W.  for  G.  Conyers,  at  the  Golden  Ring,  in  Little  Britain, 
1697."    8°.    [British  Museum.] 

(8)  The  same  except  for  insignificant  changes  in  capitalization.    "  Glas- 
gow, Printed  by  Robert   Sanders  of  Auldhouse  ;  and  are  to  be  sold  in 
his  shop,  opposite  to  the  College.     M.DCC.XIII."    8°;   pp.  80.     [British 
Museum  and  Bodleian.] 

(9)  The  same  as  the  foregoing.    "  Aberdeen.    Printed  by  James  Nicol 
Printer  to  the  Town  and  University.    1717."   8°;  pp.  95.  [British  Museum.] 

(10)  "  The  History  of  the  Seven  Wise  Masters  of  Rome.     Containing 
Many  pleasant  and  witty  Narrations,  Very  delightful  to  read.    London: 
Printed  and  Sold  by  T.  Sabine,  No.  81,  Shoe-Lane,  and  E.  Sibley,  Book- 
seller, No.  29,  Brick  Lane,  Spital-Fields."    No  date.    Pp.  168.    [Bodleian 
and  Harvard.] 

(11)  "  The  History  of  the  Seven   Wise  Masters  of  Rome :  containing 
Seven  Days  entertainment.    In  many  Pleasant  and  Witty  Tales,  or  Stories : 
wherein  The  Treachery  of  Evil  Counsellors  is  discovered,  .  .  .  Newly  Cor- 
rected. .  .  .    The  Five  and  twentieth  Edition.    Printed  for  J.  Hodges,  on 
London  Bridge ;    and  J.  Johnston  in  St.  Paul's  Church-yard."    No  date. 
12°;  pp.  184.     [British  Museum.] 

(12)  '''•Roman  Stories ;  or  the  History  of  the  Seven   Wise  Masters  of 
Rome:    containing   Seven   Days  Entertainment  .  .  .    The   Fifth    Edition, 
London.     Printed  by  T.  Sabine  and  Son,  no.  81,  Shoe  Lane,  Fleet  Street." 
No  date.     12°;  pp.  84.    [British  Museum  and  Harvard.] 

(13)  The  same  with  different  pagination  and  slight  differences  in  capi- 
talization.   "  Newly  corrected,  and  better  explained  and  enlarged.     The 
Thirty-third  Edition.  Berwick:  Printed  by  W.  Phorson.  M.DCC.LXXXV." 
12°;  pp.  130.     [Bodleian.] 

(14)  The  same.     "The  Forty-First  Edition.     London,  J.  Hollis."    No 
date.    12°;  pp.  108.    [Harvard.] 

(15)  The  same.   "  The  Forty-Second  Edition.  London  :  Printed  and  Sold 
by  J.  Hollis,  No.  21,  Shoemaker- Row,  Black-Friars."    No  date.    Pp.  96. 
[Bodleian.] 

(16)  "  The  History  of  the  Seven  Wise  Masters  [and  Mistresses']  of  Rome 
containing  many  ingenious  and  entertaining  stories  .  .  .    Thirty-eight  Edi- 
tion.    Dublin:  Printed  by  A.  Fox,  Upper  Bridge  St.     1814."     12°;  pp.  72. 
[Harvard.] 


LATER  ENGLISH  VERSIONS  Ixv 

(17)  The  same.    "Thirty-Ninth  Edition.     Dublin,  Published  by  C.  M. 
Warren,  21,  Upper  Ormond  Quay."    No  date.     12°;  pp.  45.     [Harvard.] 

(18)  "  The  First  Part  of  the  famous  History  of  the  Seven  Wise  Mas- 
ters of  Rome,     Containing  many  excellent  and  delightful  Examples  .  .  . 
Newcastle  :  Printed  in  this  present  Year"  ;  followed  by  "The  Second  Part 
of  the  famous  History  of  the  Seven  Wise  Masters  of  Rome.  .  .  .  New- 
castle :  Printed  in  this  Year."    No  date.     12°;  24  pp.  in  each  part.    [Brit- 
ish Museum.] 

(19)  "  The  Famous  History  of  the  Seven  Wise  Masters  of  Rome.    Con- 
taining Many  Excellent  and  Delightful  Examples  .  .  .     London,  Printed 
and  Sold  in  Aldermary  Churchyard,  Bow  Lane."    No  date.     12°;  pp.  24. 
[British  Museum.] 

(20)  The  same  as  the  foregoing  except  for  a  slight  difference  in  the 
numbering  of  the  chapters.1    "  Printed  and  sold  in  Aldermary  Churchyard, 
Bow  Lane,  London."    No  date.     12°;  pp.  24.     [British  Museum.] 

(21)  The  same  as  19  and  20  except  for  a  slight  difference  in  the  num- 
bering of  chapters.    "  Printed  and  sold  in  London."    No  date.     12°;  pp.  24. 
[British  Museum.] 

(22)  The  same  as  19,  20,  and  21   except  for  a  slight  difference  in  the 
numbering  of  chapters.    "  Boston  :  Printed  and   Sold  by  J.  White,  near 
Charlestown-Bridge.     1794."     12°;  pp.  34.     [British  Museum.] 

(23)  The   same  as  21.    "Printed   for  the  Company  of  Walking  Sta- 
tioners.    London."     No  date.    12°;  pp.24.    [British  Museum.] 

(24)  The  same  as  the  foregoing  except  that  the  chapter  numbering  is 
correct.    "  Warrington  :  Printed  for  the  Travelling  Stationers."    No  date. 
12°;  pp.  24.    [British  Museum.] 

(25)  "  The  History,  of  The  Seven  Wise  Masters  of  Rome.    Containing 
Many    Excellent    and    Delightful    Examples  .  .  .     Printed    and    Sold    in 
London."    No  date.    Pp.  24.    [Bodleian.] 

(26)  "  Wisdoms  cabinet  open'd  ;  or,   The  famous  history  of  the  Seven 
wise  masters  of  Rome,  containing  many  excellent  and  delightful  examples 
.  .  ."    No  date  or  place.    4°  ;  pp.  24.    [Harvard.]  2 

1  The  variations  of  19,  20,  21,  and  22  in  the  numbering  of  chapters  are  as 
follows:  with  19,  chap,  iv  is  numbered  v,  and  chap,  ix  is  numbered  x;  with  20, 
chap,  ix  is  numbered  x;  with  21,   chap,  vn  is  numbered  vi ;  with  22,  chap, 
ix  is  numbered  x,  and  chap,  x  is  numbered  xi. 

2  Besides  these  twenty-six  prints  there  are  others  variously  reported  of  which 
I   have  been  unable  to  trace   copies.    Hazlitt   {Bibliographical    Collections  and 
Notes,  London,  1882,  p.  653)  points  out  that  a  license  was  granted  to  Thomas 
Purfoot  in  1565-1566  to  print  The  VII.-  Masters  of  Rome ;  and  Brunet  (Manuel, 
Paris,    1864,  V,  col.  298)    catalogues    an    edition   of    The  hystorie   of  the  seven 


Ixvi  INTRODUCTION 

These  twenty-six  editions  may  be  roughly  classified  in  three  groups. 

To  Group  I  belong  the  first  ten  editions.  This  group  follows  pretty 
closely  the  text  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde.  Its  only  noteworthy 
changes  are  in  the  phrasing  and  in  the  addition  of  a  prefatory  address 
to  the  reader. 

Group  II,  made  up  of  editions  n  to  15  inclusive,  furnishes  a  free 
paraphrase  of  the  Wynkyn  de  Worde  text  (or  oi  Group  I).  Four  of 
the  group — 12,  13,  14,  and  15 — bear  the  title,  Roman  Stories;  or 
The  History  of  the  Seven  Wise  Masters  of  Rome.  The  first  member  of 
the  group  (n)  differs  from  the  rest  in  inserting  near  the  end  four 
stories  that  are  not  found  elsewhere  in  the  collection. 

Group  III  includes  the  last  eleven  of  the  editions  described.  This 
group  is  characterized  by  a  radical  condensing  and  botching  of  its 
original,  and  is  cheaply  got  up  in  every  way.  The  first  three  of  the 
group  represent  a  middle  stage  in  the  progressive  mutilation  of  the 
original.  The  rest  are  more  condensed. 

The  source  of  these  later  editions  was  the  text  printed  by  Wynkyn 
de  Worde.  Whether  the  edition  of  1653  (i) — probably  the  parent  of 
all  the  rest  —  was  based  directly  on  the  Wynkyn  de  Worde  edition,  or 
was  related  to  it  indirectly  through  the  edition  printed  by  Copland, 
cannot  now  be  established,  since  no  copy  of  the  Copland  text  has 
survived. 

C.    THE  COTTON-RAWLINSON   REDACTION 

Description  of  the  Manuscripts. — The  text  of  The  Seven  Sages  of 
Rome  presented  in  this  volume  is  that  of  the  MS.  Cotton  Galba  E.  ix  (C). 
In  the  footnotes  to  the  text  are  given  the  variants  from  C  exhibited 
by  the  MS.  Rawlinson  Poet.  175  (R),  a  copy  of  the  same  redaction 
as  that  represented  by  C.  A  general  description  of  both  C  and  R  has 
been  given  above  (pp.  xxxvi  f.) ;  a  more  detailed  description  of  these 
manuscripts  is  given  here. 

wise  Maisters  of  Rome  by  Purfoot,  London,  1633,  and  reports  that  this  edi- 
tion was  reprinted  in  1666,  1674,  and  1684.  Mention  is  also  made  by  Douce  in 
some  notes  on  the  leaf  opposite  the  title-page  of  the  Bodleian  copy  of  the  1653 
edition  (i)  of  "an  edition  printed  by  Pinson  in  London  with  cuts,"  a  few  leaves 
of  which,  says  Douce,  were  at  the  time  of  his  writing  (after  1829)  in  the  posses- 
sion of  a  Mr.  Inglis.  Douce  also  asserts,  in  the  same  place,  that  there  was  an 
edition  of  The  Seven  Sages  in  1682. 


THE  COTTON-RAWLINSON  REDACTION  Ixvii 

MS.  Cotton  Galba  E.  ix  (C). —  The  Cotton  manuscript  came  to  the 
British  Museum  from  the  collection  of  Sir  Robert  Bruce  Cotton.  It  had 
escaped  from  the  fire  of  1731  with  but  little  injury  apparently,  the  only 
damage  of  any  significance  being  a  slight  shriveling  at  the  inner  cor- 
ners of  some  folios,  —  this,  however,  only  in  rare  cases  sufficient  to 
render  the  text  illegible.  The  manuscript  is  now  inclosed  in  a  hand- 
some modern  binding. 

Besides  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  the  Cotton  codex  contains  copies 
of  Ywain  and  Gawain,  Minot's  poems,  The  Gospel  of  Nicodemus,  The 
Pricke  of  Conscience  (incomplete),  and  a  number  of  briefer  poems  and 
fragments.  The  Seven  Sages  is  the  second  article  in  the  volume,  and 
extends  from  folio  25b  to  folio  48b.  It  is  written  in  double  columns,  47 
lines  to  the  column,  and  comprises  4328  lines. 

The  date  of  the  manuscript  is  early  in  the  fifteenth  century.1 

The  handwriting  of  C  is  large,  round,  and  easily  legible.  Occasion- 
ally there  are  slight  obscurations  (as  in  11.  525,  871,  and  1526-1530), 
traceable  perhaps  to  the  dropping  of  some  chemical  upon  the  vellum. 
Of  insertions  above  the  line  there  are  the  following : 

0/"(579),  the  first  e  of  honeore  (594),  r  in  burias  (632),  Is  of  als  (757), 
in  (809),  the  first  e  of  nedder  (841),  w  of  now  (866),  r  of  buriase  (1036), 
he  (1151),  &>  after  for  (1163),  -re/  of  <wyne  (1189),  him  (1192),  his  (1322), 
0of  so  (1355),  rof  seriantes  (i^i),  o  of  opind  (\  ^5) ,  vs  (1674), sal(  1806), 
•ge  (1894),  clothes  (1992),  J>at  (2192),  s  of  scho  (2422),  him  (2638),  h  of 
eghen  (2720),  /of  boiland  (2727),  J>e  (2735),  me  (2925),  come  (3515),  the 
first  a  of  answare  (3996),  dot  brend  (4253),  and  k  of  tok  (4315). 

Most  of  these  are  paler  than  the  rest,  but  are  probably  in  the  same 
hand.    Deletions  occur  as  follows  :  a  maner  after  maner  (304),  a  second 

1  See  Ward,  Catalogue,  II,  p.  213,  and  Hall,  Poems  of  Minot,  Oxford,  1887, 
pp.  viii  f.  According  to  some,  however,  the  manuscript  belongs  to  the  fourteenth 
century;  see  Tyrwhitt,  Canterbiiry  Tales,  London,  1775,  IV,  p.  330,  note;  Ritson, 
Ancient  Engleish  Metrical  Romancees,  London,  1802,  III,  p.  229;  and  Morris, 
The  Pricke  of  Conscience,  Early  English  volume  of  the  Ptiblications  of  the  Philo- 
logical Society  for  1862-1864,  Berlin,  1863,  p.  iv,  all  of  whom  date  the  manuscript 
in  the  second  half  of  the  fourteenth  century.  Schleich,  Ywain  and  Gawain, 
Appeln  and  Leipzig,  1887,  pp.  i  and  xxiv,  suggests  that  the  date  is  even  earlier. 
The  N.  E.  D.  under  Clergy  (C,  1. 62)  and  Cope  (C,  1.  3523)  gives  the  date  as  "  c.  1320," 
but  this  evidently  in  consequence  of  a  confusion  with  A,  the  editors  overlooking 
the  fact  that  A  does  not  begin  until  1.  135  and  ends  with  1.  2779  in  the  Weber 
edition,  from  which  they  cite. 


Ixviii  INTRODUCTION 

mani  (1192),  a  second  went  (1539),  a  second  sho  said  (2012).  The 
only  erasures  of  which  we  can  be  sure  are  an  e  at  the  end  of  child 
(499),  and  what  I  take  to  be  the  word  fowretenight  (2611),  for  which 
four  skore  has  apparently  been  substituted. 

There  are  comparatively  few  scribal  errors.  We  can  be  sure,  I  think, 
only  of  the  following  (all  of  which  I  have  emended  as  indicated)  : 

Empoure  for  Emperoure  (317),  lul  for  /«/"(323),  message  for  messages 
(356),  said  omitted  (443),  ymp  omitted  (617),  hi  ior  bis  (645),  tre  omitted 
(677),  him  omitted  (831),  sware  omitted  (933),  roson  for  reson  (941), 
lighly  for  lightly  (1079),  tweft  for  tivelft  (i  168),  nothin  for  nothing  (1402), 
knele  for  kneled  (1477),  ivhedes  for  wheder  (1538),  wakeman  for  wakemen 
(1621),  tomorw  for  tomoroiv  (1666),  reswon  for  resown  (1685),  chanber 
for  chamber  (1766),  play  tig  ior  playing  (1932),  bo  ior  bou  (2126),  noneking 
for  nonekins  (2167),  merual  for  meruail  (2196),  hat  ior  t>ai  (2257),  baiior 
ban  (2263),  J>at  for  ban  (2308),  bat  added  (2345),  are  for  ayre  (2345), 
neght  for  negh  (2562),  And  ior  Als  (2685),  •withowen  for  withowten  (2694), 
shied  for  cried  (2862),  lered  for ^7^^(2998),  righwisdome  for  rightwisdome 
(3038),  7iz/l  oinitted  (rubric  to  inclusa,^.  no),  nvighly  for  wightly  (3374), 
;#£  for  ?/z<?«£  (3842),  might  omitted  (3943),  /><?  omitted  (4018),  gignyfy  for 
signyfy  (4022),  ««^/ omitted  (4111),  wior  we  (41 72),  sebn  for  j^zVz  (4326).* 

And  there  are  some  instances  in  which  the  scribe  has  perhaps  made  an 
error  but  of  which  I  take  no  account  in  the  text  proper ;  see  the  notes 
to  11.  180,  283,  677,  840,  1008,  1868,  1918,  2012,  2611,  4105. 

The  manuscript  is  comparatively  rich  in  rubrics  and  rubricated  char- 
acters. There  are  altogether  thirty-one  rubrics  in  the  poem  :  that  at 
the  beginning,  which  gives  the  title  of  the  poem,  and  one  before  each 
of  the  prologues  and  stories.  All  these  are  in  prose.  In  color  they  are 
red  throughout.  The  initial  letters  of  the  first  line  of  the  poem  and  of 
the  first  line  of  each  of  the  prologues  and  stories  are  also  in  red,  with 
now  and  then  a  trace  of  blue.  Besides  these,  there  are  numerous  rubri- 
cated characters  or  flourishes  —  in  red  or  blue,  or  in  both  —  within 
the  body  of  the  introduction  and  of  the  stories,  characters  which  almost 
invariably  appear  at  the  beginning  of  the  smaller  divisions  of  thought 
and  which  I  take  to  indicate  paragraph  division.2 

1  All  these  errors  except  the  first  of  those  indicated  for  1.  2345  and  that  for 
1.  2862  are  corrected  by  R. 

2  These  characters  appear  before  a  few  lines  which  do  not  logically  introduce  a 
paragraph  (as  2491,  2903,  3555) ;  and  they  are  also  sometimes  omitted  before  lines 
which  clearly  begin  new  paragraphs  (as  363, 1435, 1817,1955,2001,3157,  4259,  4279). 


THE  COTTON-RAWLINSON  REDACTION  Ixix 

The  rubricated  initial  letters  of  the  first  line  of  the  poem  and  of  the 
first  lines  of  the  prologues  and  stories  are  always  large  capitals.  The 
initial  L  at  the  beginning  of  the  poem  extends  over  three  lines;  and 
the  initials  at  the  beginning  of  each  of  the  stories  and  of  11.  27,  141, 
215,  295,  353,  and  477,  extend  over  two  lines;  the  initials  of  the  pro- 
logues cover  but  one  line.  Capitalization  is,  aside  from  the  partial  reg- 
ularity just  indicated,  rather  irregular.  The  initial  letters  following  the 
rubricated  characters  that  indicate  paragraph  division  are  doubtless  to 
be  taken  as  capitals,  though  they  are  not  always  written  as  capitals. 
With  other  lines  the  initials  are  usually  not  capitalized.  Within  the 
line,  proper  names  are,  as  a  rule,  capitalized,  though  there  is  inconsist- 
ency here  also. 

Thus,  while  Malquidas  and  Caton  are  always  capitalized,  Bdncillas 
seems  in  some  places  (as  in  1.  439)  to  be  spelled  with  a  small  letter.  Em- 
peror and  Empress  are  with  very  rare  exceptions  capitalized.  The  names 
of  places,  as  Rome,  Nauerne,  Poyl,  are  usually  capitalized,  but  not  invaria- 
bly so.  Capital  F  is,  as  a  rule,  indicated  by  ff.  In  1.  2868,  by  a  scribal 
oversight  probably,  robbed  is  spelled  with  a  capital. 

Abbreviations  are  abundant.  The  commonest  of  all  is  naturally  that 
for  and,  which  word  is  never  spelled  out  except  in  11.  1059,  2685,1 
3289,  and  4255.  Next  most  common  is  some  combination  with  the 
letter  r ;  of  such  combinations  there  are  the  following :  ar,  ra,  er,  re, 
ri,  ro.  Here  also  should  be  mentioned  the  curled  r,  which  I  take  to 
have  the  value  of  re ;  it  is  exceedingly  common.  It  normally  appears 
only  at  the  end  of  a  word,2  but  in  three  instances  —  Floreentine  (394), 
couret  (2694),  and  smeretly  (3538) — it  has  medial  position.  Abbre- 
viations of  the  nasals  are  not  very  common ;  so  also  with  the  abbrevia- 
tions s,  es,  and  us.  The  abbreviated  fiat  and  with  are  also  very  rare, 
pat  being  spelled  out  always  except  in  11.  i,  641,  1558,  2012,  2334, 
2343>  332I>  3360,  3601,  and  with  always  except  in  11.  2278,  2803, 
3074.  Occasionally,  and  especially  in  the  rubrics  introducing  the  tales 
and  their  prologues,  Roman  letters  are  used  for  numerals. 

In  spelling  the  most  radical  irregularity  prevails.  The  letters  /  and 
y,  u  and  w,  a  and  o,  interchange  with  the  greatest  freedom.  And 

1  And  here  surely  a  scribal  error  for  A  Is ;  see  the  note  on  the  line. 

2  Sometimes,  however,  the  scribe  writes  re  instead  of  the  curled  r  \  see  1.  30 
and  the  note  thereon. 


Ixx  INTRODUCTION 

occasionally  there  are  freak  spellings.  For  instance,  the  word  Empress, 
usually  spelled  Emperice  or  Emperes,  is  in  1.  491  spelled  Emperiz ; 
and  Emperor,  normally  spelled  Emperour  or  Emperoure  or  Emperowre, 
is  spelled  in  1.  593  Emparowre.  Still  there  is  some  order  in  the  seem- 
.  ing  chaos.  C  consistently  uses  initial  sh  rather  than  sch  except  in  11.  476, 
619,  and  2422.  It  seldom  ends  a  word  with  //  or  //  except  at  the  end 
of  the  line,  where  it  never  ends  with  single  /  and  only  rarely  with 
single  /.  Medially  /  is  almost  invariably  used  for  th  ;  and  the  palatal  g 
is  represented  by  5  always  except  in yowre  (2700).  The  letters  5  and/, 
it  should  be  added,  are  identical  in  the  manuscript  with  z  and  y  respec- 
tively. As  a  variant  of  initial  w,  wh  is  sometimes  used,  as  in  whife 
(1512  and  often  thereafter),  whise  (334,  2584,  2799),  and  "wharm 
(2906).  And,  conversely,  w  sometimes  appears  where  we  should 
expect  wh,  as  in  wen  (i  131  and  2315)  and  ^^(2962).  Word  division 
is  frequently  different  from  that  in  vogue  to-day. 

The  manuscript  has  only  one  mark  of  punctuation,  a  period  written 
above  the  line,  and  this  appears  only  four  times:  after  has,  1.  1971 ; 
after  Emperowre,  1.  2403  ;  after  fius,  1.  2667  ;  and  after  was/is,  1.  3850. 
This  mark  is  of  variable  value ;  in  1.  1971,  it  has  the  value  of  a  comma, 
in  1.  2403  it  appears  where  present  usage  requires  that  there  be  no 
punctuation  whatever,  in  1.  2667  it  has  the  value  of  a  colon,  and  in 
1.  3850  the  value  of  a  semicolon. 

MS.  Rawlinson  Poet.  175  (R).  —  The  Rawlinson  manuscript  was 
presented  to  the  Bodleian  Library  in  1756  by  Dr.  Richard  Rawlinson. 
It  came  into  Rawlinson's  possession  from  the  Thoresby  Collection,  and 
had  at  one  time  belonged  to  a  "  Christofer  Fauell,"  and  prior  to  that 
time  perhaps  to  a  "  Raphe  Wormond."  1 

The  manuscript  is  not  stout,  containing  besides  The  Seven  Sages, 
only  two  poems  of  any  considerable  length,  —  The  Pricke  of  Conscience 
and  The  Ghost  of  Guy.  The  Seven  Sages  includes  folios  io9a  to  131°. 
It  is  written  in  double  columns  of  44  lines  each.  The  handwriting  is  that 
of  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century.2  The  text  is  imperfect :  the 
two  folios  which  should  follow  folio  125  have  been  lost,  and  two  other 
folios,  which  should  come  immediately  after  folio  123,  are  incorrectly 

1  See  F.  Madan,  Summary  Catalogue  of  Western  Manuscripts  in  the  Bodleian 
Library,  Oxford,  1895,  III,  pp.  321  f. 

2  See  Madan,  p.  321,  and  A.  S.  Napier,  Publications  of  the  Mod.  Lang.  Assoc., 
VII,  p.  459- 


THE  COTTON-RAWLINSON  REDACTION  Ixxi 

placed  just  after  folio  125.  In  consequence  of  the  loss  of  these  leaves 
R  contains  only  3974  lines. 

The  text  of  R,  however,  is  in  the  main  well  preserved.  There  are  a 
few  insignificant  obscurations  within  the  line,  but  the  only  blemishes 
worthy  of  note  are  at  the  upper  outer  corners  of  about  a  dozen  leaves 
where  the  manuscript  has  been  partially  worn  away  or  faded.  Perhaps 
the  most  serious  blemish  of  this  sort  is  found  on  folio  130,  where  about 
ten  words  have  been  obliterated. 

Scribal  deletions  and  insertions  are  commoner  than  in  C.  Scribal 
errors,  however,  are  no  commoner,  though  some  of  them  are  more 
violent  than  in  C ;  as,  for  instance,  the  inverting  of  bere  and  may  in 
1.  113  and  the  substituting  of  wist  for  noght  in  1.  224,  both  of  which 
changes  destroy  the  rhyme. 

The  rubrics  in  R  are  the  same  as  those  in  C,  but  rubricated  letters 
are  fewer  and  smaller  in  R ;  and  of  the  rubricated  characters"  regularly 
used  in  C  to  indicate  the  smaller  breaks  in  thought  there  are  none  in  R. 

In  capitalization  R  is  the  more  regular  of  the  two.  The  initial  letter 
of  the  first  word  in  each  line  is  always  capitalized  except  when  this 
letter  is  /  or  v.  Within  the  line  there  is  less  of  regularity ;  names  of 
persons  are  almost  always  spelled  with  capitals,  but  names  of  places  — 
especially  Rome  —  are  frequently  spelled  with  small  letters.  The  word 
/j,  in  avis,  is  regularly  capitalized.  The  scribe  seems  to  have  shown 
less  care  as  to  capitalization  in  the  first  half  than  in  the  second. 

Abbreviations  in  R  are  much  more  abundant  than  in  C.  With  and 
fiat,  rarely  abbreviated  in  C,  are  almost  invariably  abbreviated  in  R. 
The  nasal  abbreviations,  also,  are  commoner  in  R  than  in  C ;  so  also 
with  abbreviations  in  s  and  r,  except  in  the  case  of  the  curled  r, 
which  never  occurs  in  R.  R  abbreviates  and  only  when  it  appears 
initially. 

In  spelling  R  differs  consistently  from  C  in  using  yh  where  C  uses  g, 
and  sch  initially  where  C  uses  sh.  R  differs  from  C,  too,  in  preferring 
always  //  and  tt  in  words  ending  in  /  and  /,  and  in  avoiding  the  char- 
acter f>  in  medial  position.  R  very  often  differs  from  C  in  other  respects 
also,  as  the  footnotes  show,  but  I  can  discover  little  regularity  in  these 
differences. 

Relationship  of  the  Two  Manuscripts.  —  The  nearness  of  C  and  R  to 
each  other  is  obvious  enough  from  the  fewness  and  the  insignificance 
of  the  variants  indicated  in  the  footnotes  to  this  edition.  But  neither 


Ixxii  INTRODUCTION 

i 

of  them  was  copied  from  the  other ;  each  is  an  independent  copy  from 
the  same  lost  original,  which  I  have  designated  as  cr. 

That  C  was  not  copied  from  R  is  established  by  the  following  circum- 
stances :  that  C  does  not  contain  the  couplet  arbitrarily  inserted  by  R 
after  1.  2364 ;  and  that  it  preserves,  in  agreement  with  other  manu- 
scripts of  Y,  the  two  couplets  (11.  1279-1280  and  2843-2844)  which 
R  omits. 

That  R  was  not  copied  from  C  (or  from  some  earlier  manuscript  of 
which  C  is  a  faithful  transcription  *)  follows  from  certain  agreements 
between  R  and  other  nearly  related  manuscripts  where  the  scribe  of  C 
made  arbitrary  changes;  thus,  in  1.  758,  R  has  Of  in  agreement  with 
A  698  and  E  678  where  C  reads  For ;  in  1.  1248,  R  has  fiarofin  agree- 
ment with  Ar,  E,  B,  F,  while  C  has  Hereof.  Further  confirmatory  of 
this  is  the  retention  by  R  in  11.  443,  831,  3943,  4111,  of  words  (said, 
him,  might,  and  and  respectively)  which  C  illogically  omits. 

Date  of  Composition.  — The  dates  of  the  manuscripts  C  and  R  have 
been  given  above  in  the  detailed  description  of  them 2 :  C,  according  to 
the  best  authorities,  belongs  to  the  first  quarter  of  the  fifteenth  century, 
R  to  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century.  Our  concern  now  is  not, 
however,  with  the  age  of  these  manuscripts,  but  with  the  age  of  the 
redaction  whence  they  were  derived,  the  lost  manuscript  cr.  It  has 
been  shown  above,  in  the  section  on  the  interrelationship  of  the  Middle 
English  manuscripts,8  that  this  manuscript  was  made  from  another 
Middle  English  manuscript,  that  it  is,  indeed,  merely  a  slightly  ampli- 
fied and  otherwise  mildly  altered  copy  of  the  lost  manuscript  (y).  which 
served  also  as  the  original  of  at  least  five  other  Middle  English  manu- 
scripts (A,  Ar,  E,  B,  F).  It  remains  to  show  at  what  time  this  elabo- 
rating of  y  was  done,  —  in  brief,  to  determine  when  cr  first  assumed 
manuscript  form. 

For  determining  this,  the  date  of  R,  the  older  of  the  two  manuscripts 
copied  from  cr,  is  of  most  moment.  This,  as  we  have  seen,  is  about 
the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century.  The  year  1350,  then,  may  be 
accepted  as  the  superior  limit  for  the  dating  of  cr. 

It  seems  to  me  impossible  to  determine  whether  or  not  cr  was  written 
much  before  1350 ;  for  there  is  no  external  evidence  bearing  on  the. point, 

1  For,  as  pointed  out  above  (p.  Ixvii),  C  is  written  in  a  later  hand  than  R. 

2  Pp.  Ixvii  and  Ixx.  3  Pp.  xl  f. 


THE  COTTON-RAWLINSON  REDACTION  Ixxiii 

and  of  internal  evidence  there  is  only  that  of  the  final  <?,  which  is  in 
the  case  of  cr  by  no  means  definitive.  There  are  in  the  first  thousand 
lines  of  C  10  words  which  probably  pronounce  their  final  e,1  and  there 
is,  besides,  at  least  one  word  —  erth,  1.  180  —  for  which  the  meter  seems 
to  call  for  the  addition  of  a  syllabic  e.  A  like  examination  of  the  last 
thousand  lines  of  the  poem  reveals  5  words  which  probably  have  sylla- 
bic final  e 2  and  3  uninflected  words  which  should  apparently  add  this 
es:  in  all,  19  words  in  2000  lines,  or  one  example  to  each  105  lines. 
Clearly  the  number  is  too  small  to  warrant  the  conclusion  that  cr  is 
much  older  than  R.  For  although  scholars  are  agreed  that  in  the 
spoken  language  of  the  North  final  e  had  become  silent  by  the  middle 
of  the  fourteenth  century,  many  of  them  hold  that  in  the  written  lan- 
guage the  final  e  retained  its  syllabic  value  sporadically  for  another 
hundred  years.4  There  is,  however,  nothing  in  these  statistics  to  dis- 
credit a  dating  for  cr  somewhat  earlier  than  the  date  of  R ;  and  it  may 
well  be  that  cr  was  written  in  the  first  quarter  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

Dialect.  —  The  dialect  of  both  C  and  R  is  Northern,  as  is  sufficiently 
established  by  the  following  data5 : 

i.  Anglo-Saxon  a  is  regularly  represented  by  a.  Of  194  rhymes  in 
which  some  derivative  of  A.S.  a  appears,  this  vowel  is  represented  by  a 
in  179  instances;  by  o,  in  15  instances.  With  138  of  the  179  rhymes 
in  a  both  rhyme  words  contain  a  derivative  of  A.S.  a;  in  the  remaining 
41  instances  the  derivative  from  A.S.  a  is  made  to  rhyme  with  an  a 
having  some  other  history.  These  41  instances  are  as  follows  : 

lare:  ware  (43-44),  rath:  bath  (73-74),  ware:  lare  (109-110),  ane : 
tane  (157-158),  sare :  care  (313-314),  J>are :  mare  (383-384),  skath  : 
bath  (575-576),  bathes  :  dathes  (791-792),  place  :  gase  (887-888,  945- 
946),  tane:  -bane  (1219—1220),  sare:  ware  (1257-1258),  gase:  mase 
(1269-1270),  smate :  J>at  (1301-1302),  care:  sare  (1425-1426),  stane : 
tane  (1577-1578),  hare:  sare  (1703-1704),  dame:  hame  (1941-1942), 

1  These  are  knaue  (15),  teche(\-2$,fele  (162),  stede  (165),  riche  (266),  riche  (386), 
grete  (653),  grete  (656),  speke  (772),  and  slepe  (794). 

2  These  are  mylde^^^^gude  (3351), Dame  (3469), 77^(4236), and same(^2%6). 

3  These  are  ilk  (3666),  swith  (3687),  and  hert  (4157). 

4  See,  for  instance,  Morsbach,  MittelengL  Grammatik,  Halle,  1896,  pp.  14  and 
no. 

5  These  statistics  are  based  on  C,  with  which  R  usually  agrees.    All  striking  or 
significant  variations  exhibited  by  R  are  noted. 


Ixxiv  INTRODUCTION 

swa :  ta  (2007-2008),  klathe  :  scathe  (2027-2028),  mare :  care  (2093-2094), 
ware:  sare  (2365-2366),  gare:  wideware  (2415-2416),  wrath:  skath 
(2443-2444),  place : gase  (2553-2554),  man:  ilkane  (2953-2954),  hame : 
lame  (2967-2968),  ware :  sare  (3 1 69-3 1 70), same :  hame  (3285-3286), grace: 
fase  (3323-3324),  tase :  gase  (3429-3430),  care  :  mare  (359r-3592),  -™are : 
J>are  (3603-3604),  gane :  leman  (3613-3614),  ware:  mare  (3637-3638), 
gase :  place  (3649-3650),  man:  gane  (3795-3796),  haste :  -maste  (3885- 
3886),  bate:  state  (3905-3906),  ware:  mare  (3973-3974),  rath:  bath 
(4197-4198). 

The  15  instances  in  which  A.S.  a  is  represented  by  o  are  the  fol- 
lowing : 

two  :  go  (13-14),  one :  done  (471-472),  clowes  :  trowes  (1021-1022),  so  : 
go  (1151-1152)  (1157-1158),  so:  mo  (1161-1162),  so:  do  (1667-1668), 
lohn1:  none  (1717-1718),  £-0:  so  (2335-2336)  (2549-2550),  so:  do  (2751- 
2752),  lohn  :  none  (2939-2940),  to(=toe):  also  (3103-3104),  so:  vnto 
(3161-3162),  done:  one  (3557~3558)- 

In  only  8  of  these  at  best  (471-472,  1021-1022,  1667-1668,  1717- 
1718,  2751-2752,  2939-2940,  3161-3162,  3557-35S8)  is  tne  evidence 
of  any  real  significance,  since  in  the  rest  both  vowels  concerned  are 
developments  of  A.S.  a.  Within  the  line  C  uses  o  for  A.S.  a  quite  as 
rarely  as  in  the  rhyme.  R  shows  a  greater  fondness  for  o ;  in  61 
instances  within  the  line  R  spells  with  o  where  C  uses  a,  while  there  are 
only  7  instances  in  which  C  spells  with  o  where  R  has  a. 

2.  The  present  participle  ends,  with  rare  exceptions,  in  and.    Thus : 

stand:  cunand  (335-336),  tihand :  cumand  (491-492),  grouand:  stand 
(623-624),  slepeand :  wepeand  (889-890),  haldand :  hand  (1321-1322), 
hand:  brinand  (2171-2172),  hand:  taisand  (2175-2176),  wand:  criand 
(2459-2460),  murnand ' :  stand  (2523-2524),  brinand:  singand  (2827- 
2828),  glow  and :  -brand  (3111-3112),  land:  dweland  (3247-3248),  tij>and  : 
lykand  (3521-3522),  s  ay  land :  land  (3893-3894).  The  only  exception 
is  furnished  by  the  word  hand-haueing,  which  in  two  instances  (749-750) 
(1563-1564)  is  made  to  rhyme  with  ing ;  and  this  exception  is  probably 
only  apparent,  since  it  is  likely  that  hand-haueing  had  lost  its  participial 
value. 

Within  the  line  there  are  no  examples  of  the  ending  in  ing.  There 
are,  however,  within  the  line  no  fewer  than  26  examples  of  the  ending 

1  Perhaps  with  the  value  of  lohan,  which  is  the  spelling  of  R  in  1.  2939. 


THE  COTTON-RAWLINSON  REDACTION  Ixxv 

in  and}-  The  verbal  noun  regularly  ends  in  ing,  but  in  one  instance  it 
has  the  ending  and  (land :  of  rand,  2655-2656). 

3.  The  inflection  of  the  present  indicative  is  for  both  second  and  third 
person  singular  invariably  (e)s(e)  •  for  the  plural,  es  except  in  one 
instance,  where  the  subject  is  a  pronoun.  The  evidence  of  the  rhyme 
for  the  second  person  singular  is  briefly  as  follows:  slase :  case  (755— 
756),  clowes :  trowes  (1021—1022).  For  the  third  person  singular  the 
rhyme  evidence  is  abundant : 

tentes :  sienz  (35-36),  standes :  handes  (547-548),  palays :  sais  (621- 
622),  bathes :  clathes  (791-792),  place :  gase  (887-888)  (945-946),  hawes  : 
gnaives  (999-1000),  alegance :  grantes  (1267-1268),  gase :  rase  (1809- 
1810),  wries  :  lyes  (2505-2506),  place :  gase  (2553-2554),  hase:  case  (2623- 
2624),  likes :  bisiuikes  (2747-2748),  failes  :  counsailes  (2977-2978),  say se  : 
hernays(^si-^s-2}^us:  bus  (3475~3476),  rase : gase  (35°7-35o8),£aj*.- 
place  (3649-3650), grace :  tase  (3701-3702),  tase :  was  (3709-3710),  cries: 
signyfies  (4003-4004),  tels  :  Belles  (4027-4028),  ayse  :  sais  (4179-4180). 

Of  the  plural  only  the  following  instances  (all  third  person)  are  furnished 
by  the  rhyme:  clowes:  trowes  (1021-1022),  gfose :  lose  (2343-2344), 
likes:  biswikes  (2747-2748),  cries:  signyfies  (4003-4004),  and  tels: 
Belles  (4027-4028).  The  one  form  in  which  the  inflection  is  not  es 
(glose,  1.  2343)  was  probably  abbreviated  in  the  interest  of  the  rhyme.2 
Within  the  line  the  verbal  inflections  in  both  C  and  R  are  essentially  in 
accord  with  the  inflections  indicated  by  the  rhyme. 

In  other  phonological  and  inflectional  peculiarities  there  is  nothing  to 
contradict  the  evidence  thus  far  adduced  :  the  prefix  ge  in  the  perfect 
participle  is  always  dropped,  and  the  en  of  the  perfect  participle  of 
strong  verbs  is  regularly  retained ;  the  infinitive  usually  loses  its  inflec- 
tion except  in  the  case  of  contract  verbs ;  A.S.  palatal  c  is  usually 
represented  by  k ;  sal  and  suld  are  the  regular  representatives  of  A.S. 
sceal  and  sceolde ;  and  the  feminine  of  the  third  personal  pronoun 
singular  is  invariably  sho  or  scho? 

Northern  words  abound.  Among  words  or  forms  that  are  either 
mainly  or  wholly  Northern  are  the  following : 

aghteld,  and  (=  if;  4  instances),  are  (=  formerly;  9  instances),  at  (=  to; 
10  instances),  at  (=  that;  4  instances),  boun  (or  bowne;  8  instances), 

1  In  11.  46,  233,  369,  538,  713,  8n,  1060, 1105,  1258,  1312, 1468, 1665, 1692,  1768, 
2140,  2378,  2457,  2470,  2556,  2716,  2719,  2727,  2888,  3279,  3661,  4314. 

2  See  the  note  on  1.  2343!  3  See  the  rhyme  sho:  do,  11.  2961-2962. 


Ixxvi  '  INTRODUCTION 

bus  (3  instances),  byforn,  couenand  (or  coivnand*),  cunand  (or  kunand), 
fra  (57  instances),  graith,  graythly,  %ing  (4  instances,  two  in  the  rhyme), 
hethen  (3  instances),  mensk,  oboune,  quite  (=  white),  sen  (=  since;  19  in- 
stances), spir,  ta  (=  take),  ///(=  to;  54  instances),  tine,  tite  (i  i  instances), 
tiband,  traist,  kir  (7  instances),  kusgat,  mnbithoght,  vntil  (=  unto},  iver 
(  =  'worse}. 

These  statistics  quite  establish  that  both  C  and  R  are  in  the  Northern 
dialect.  A  few  of  the  peculiarities  instanced  —  as,  for  example,  the  cs 
of  the  second  and  third  person  singular  of  the  present  indicative  —  are, 
indeed,  found  also  in  the  Midland  dialect,1  but  these,  unsupported  by 
forms  that  are  exclusively  Midland,  clearly  have  no  significance. 

In  demonstrating  that  C  and  R  are  Northern,  we  also  demonstrate 
that  their  source,  cr,  was  Northern ;  for  while  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the 
scribes  of  both  manuscripts  departed  somewhat  from  their  original  in 
the  matter  of  dialectal  forms,  it  is  inconceivable,  in  the  light  of  the 
rhyme  evidence  for  O.E.  a,  the  inflection  of  the  present  plural  indica- 
tive, the  ending  of  the  present  participle,  and  the  abundance  of 
Northern  words,  that  they  had  before  them  any  other  than  a  Northern 
document.  We  have  to  conclude,  then,  that  the  home  of  cr  was  North 
England.  There  is  nothing  either  in  the  forms  or  in  the  phraseology  to 
show  that  this  redaction  was  not  made  in  the  neighborhood  of  York. 
The  agreement  with  the  two  oldest  and  best  manuscripts  of  The  Pricke 
of  Conscience  —  the  same  in  which  C  and  R  are  found  —  is  close  both 
in  wording  and  in  orthography. 

Meter.  —  The  measure  in  which  the  Middle  English  Seven  Sages  is 
written  is  the  octosyllabic  couplet,  a  form  much  in  vogue  in  the  four- 
teenth century,  as  witness  The  Hous  of  Fame,  The  Romaunt  of  the  Rose, 
Confessio  Amantis,  The  Pricke  of  Conscience,  and  Cursor  Mundi. 

The  Cotton-Rawlinson  redaction  exhibits  all  the  freedoms  and  irregu- 
larities of  meter  that  were  allowed  in  the  better  poetry  of  the  time,  and 
it  also  affects  certain  licenses  which  the  better  poets  shunned.  Of  lines 
wanting  the  initial  thesis  there  are,  by  my  count,  860,  or  about  one  in 
every  five  lines.  Of  dissyllabic  initial  thesis  there  are  36  instances ;  of 
reversal  of  stress  in  the  first  foot,  28  instances.  And  there  appear  to  be 
no  less  than  ten  lines  (84,  601,  1868,  1901,  1918,  2168,  2972,  3021, 

1  See  Brandl  in  Paul's  Grundriss,  II,  i,  pp.  612  f.,  and  Morsbach,  Mittelengl 
Gram.,  p.  15. 


THE  COTTON-RAWLINSON  REDACTION  Ixxvii 

3497,  3576)  of  three  stresses1  (though  some  of  these,  as  1868  and 
1918,  it  is  easy  to  see,  may  be  traceable  to  scribal  error).  Overfull 
lines  are  not  uncommon  (see  11.  530,  767,  830,  843,  1008,  1021,  1595, 
2219,  2269,  2417,  2511,  2803,  2827);  and  there  is  sometimes  a 
violent  wrenching  of  accent  (as  in  11.  699,  793,  1096,  1374,  1453, 
1851,  2033,  2360,  2607,  3125).  Less  tangible  faults  there  are  too, — 
among  them  a  lack  of  variety  in  accent  and  in  pause. 

But  despite  this  array  of  irregularities  and  faults,  the  meter  of  C 
merits  real  praise.  For  although  it  lacks  such  correctness  and  variety 
and  fluidity  as  is  to  be  found  in  Chaucer  or  in  Gower,  it  has  neverthe- 
less more  than  average  smoothness,  and  a  correctness,  both  in  rhythm 
and  rhyme,2  that  is  extraordinary.  In  these  regards  C  will  scarcely  suf- 
fer in  comparison  with  any  other  of  the  romances  of  the  time;  nay, 
more,  it  will  very  well  bear  comparison  with  the  work  of  some  of  the 
most  famous  religious  writers  of  the  time.  In  both  smoothness  and  cor- 
rectness it  is  quite  the  equal  of  The  Pricke  of  Conscience  ;  and  it  is,  in 
these  respects,  immensely  superior  to  the  oldest  surviving  text  of  the 
Cursor  Mundi. 

1  It  is  due  to  Professor  Kittredge  to  say  that  he  takes  some  of  these  lines  to 
be  normal. 

2  See,  for  a  few  imperfect  rhymes,  the  note  on  11.  229-230. 


SOME  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

1 .  Arbor.  —  Found  only  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome. 

An  exceedingly  simple  story,  which  does  not  lend  itself  readily  to 
variation  or  elaboration.  The  chief  variations  are  the  following  :  (i)  As 
calls  the  burgess  Cornele ;  (2)  H  represents  the  tree  as  having  the 
peculiar  virtue  of  curing  leprosy,  and  adds  that  when  the  burgess  had 
hewn  it  down  he  was  anathematized  by  the  poor  folk  of  Rome. 

Arbor  has  made  no  appeal  to  other  story-tellers.  If  there  are  variants 
or  analogues  of  it,  they  have  quite  escaped  the  notice  of  editors  and 
students  of  The  Seven  Sages?- 

2.  Canis.2 —  Found  in  all  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages :  in  the  Book 
of  Sindibadf  in  the  Dolopathos,  and  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome. 

In  the  Eastern  versions  cants  is  much  briefer  and  simpler  than  in  the 
Western  versions.  The  former  naturally  make  no  mention  of  the  tour- 
nament ;  and  they  also  omit  the  nurses 4  and  the  cradle  feature.  The 
mother  leaves  the  child  in  the  father's  care ;  the  father,  however,  is 
called  away  by  a  messenger  of  the  king,  whom  he  serves  as  armor-bearer 
or  in  some  similar  capacity.  In  the  Sindibad-nameh  the  protecting 
animal  is  a  cat.  In  the  Dolopathos  the  father,  having  become  stricken 
with  poverty,  has  left  his  native  land  shortly  before  the  action  of  the 
story,  and  has  taken  a  humbler  home  in  a  province  near  by.  Besides 

1  See,  however,  the  note  on  1.  1689  of  this  edition  for  a  partial  reflection  of 
arbor  in  a  story  introduced  into  the  Welsh  version  of  The  Seven  Sages. 

2  For  literature  on  cants  see  G.  L.  Kittredge,  "  Arthur  and  Gorlagon,"  Studies 
and  Notes  in  Philology  and  Literature,  VIII,  pp.  222  f.,  269  f.   (also  in  separate 
reprint,  Boston,  1903);  J.  G.  Frazer,  Pausanias's  Description  of  Greece,  London, 
1898,  V,  pp.  421  f. ;  Keller,  Li  Romans  des  Sept  Sages,  pp.  clxxviiif. ;  Keller,  Dyocle- 
tianus  Leben,   p.   53  ;  W.  A.  Clouston,  Popular   Tales  and  Fictions,  Edinburgh, 
1887,11,  pp.  166  f. ;  T.  Benfey,  Pantschatantra,Lzvpz\g,  1859,  I,  pp.  479  f. ;  H. 
Oesterley,  Paiilis  Schimpf  und  Ernst,   Stuttgart,  1866,  pp.  502  f. ;  H.  Oesterley, 
Kirchhofs  Wevcfatmmith,  Tubingen,  1869,  V,  p.  171  ;  and  S.  Baring-Gould,  Curious 
Myths  of  the  Middle  Ages,  new  ed.,  London,  1881,  pp.  134  f. 

3  Except  for  the  Seven  Vezirs  and  the  version  of  Nachshebl. 

4  As  do  also  the  Dolopathos  and  the  Welsh  version. 

Ixxviii 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  Ixxix 

his  dog  he  possesses  an  eagle,  which  he  has  taken  with  him  on  a  stag 
hunt  at  the  time  when  the  incident  happens  to  the  child.  The  mother 
is  also  away  from  home  at  the  time,  begging  bread.  —  In  the  many  ver- 
sions of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  the  only  noteworthy  variation  is  .that 
of  H  in  adding  a  pet  falcon  1  to  the  actors  in  the  story ;  it  is  the  falcon 
that  first  discovers  the  presence  of  the  snake ;  he  then  awakes  the  dog 
by  flapping  his  wings. 

Analogues  of  cam's  are  found  as  follows  : 

(i)  Pausanias,  Description  of  Greece,  Bk.  X,  chap,  xxxm,  tr.  Frazer, 
I>  PP-  55 1  f •  I  (2)  tne  Chinese  Vinaya  Pitaka,  see  S.  Beal,  The  Academy 
(London),  November  4,  1882,  XXII,  p.  331  (also  in  Clouston's  Popular 
Tales  and  Fictions,  II,  pp.  184  f.);  (3)  the  Pantschatantra,  Bk.  V,  No.  2  : 
(a)  Benfey,  Leipzig,  1859,  II, pp. 326  f.  '•>  R.  Schmidt,  Leipzig,  1901, pp.  287  f . ; 
(6)  J.  A.  Dubois,  Paris,  1826,  pp.  212  f. ;  (4)  ft&FablesofBidpai:  (a)  Bickell 
and  Benfey, Kalilag  undDimnag,  Leipzig,  1 876,  pp.  53  f . ;  (£)  Keith-Falconer, 
Kalilah  and Dimnah,  Cambridge,  1885,  pp.  170  f.  ;  (c)  Knatchbull,  Kalila 
and  Dimna,  Oxford,  1819,  pp.  268  f. ;  (^/)  Derenbourg,  Kalilah  et  Dimnah, 
Paris,  1 88 1,  pp.  144  f. ;  (e)  John  of  Capua,  Directorium  vitae  humanae,  ed. 
Derenbourg,  Paris,  1889,  pp.  316  f.;  (/")  Eastwick,  The  Anvar-i  Suhaill, 
Hertford,  1854,  pp.  409  f.  ;  (5)  the  Kathd-Sarit-Sagara,  Tawney,  Calcutta, 
1884,  II,  pp.  90  f.  (the  same  version  appears  in  Chambers  and  Jones's  Asiatic 
Miscellany,  Calcutta,  1787,  pp.  73  f.,  where  it  is  said  to  be  translated  from  the 
Ayar  Danish  of  Abulfazel)  ;  (6)  the  Hitopadesa,  E.  Lancereau,  Paris,  1882, 
pp.  267  f. ;  (7)  the  Alakesa  Katha,  see  Clouston,  A  Group  of  Eastern 
Romances,  Glasgow,  1889,  pp.  211  f . ;  (8)  Baldo,  Alter  Esopus,  ed.  E.  du 
Meril,  Poesies  inedites  du  moyen  Age,  Paris,  1854,  pp.  240  f. ;  (9)  Etienne 
de  Bourbon,  Anecdotes  historiques,  ed.  Lecoy  de  la  Marche,  Paris,  1877, 
pp.  325  f. ;  (10)  Legrand  d'Aussy,  Fabliaux  ou  Contes,  3d  ed.,  Paris,  1829,  - 
III,  pp.  354  f.;  (11)  Gesta  Romanorum,  Herrtage,  E.E.T.S.,  Ex.  Ser., 
XXXIII,  pp.  98  f.,  London,  1879  (Madden,  London,  1838,  pp.  85  f.);2 
(12)  Sansovino,  Cento  Novelle  Scelte,  Day  II,  novel  9,  Venice,  1561, 
pp.  91  f.  (the  same  in  French  in  Les  Facetievses  iovrnees  by  G.  C.  D[e] 
T[ours],  Day  IX,  novel  I,  Paris,  1584,  pp.  287  f.);  (13)  H.  W.  Kirchhof, 
Wendunmuth,  Bk.  VII,  No.  109,  ed.  Oesterley,  Tubingen,  1879,  IV,  p.  321  ; 
(14)  R.  L'Estrange,  Fables  of  jEsop,  No.  CCCCLXIV,  London,  1692, 
P-  439  5  (r5)  J-  Pauli,  Schimpfund Ernst,  No.  257,  ed.  Oesterley,  Stuttgart, 
1866,  pp.  169  f. ;  (16)  Arthur  and  Gorlagon,  Kittredge,  in  Studies  and  Notes  + 

1  A  natural  addition  and  in  no  way  influenced,  I  believe,  by  the  eagle  of  the 
Dolopathos. 

2  Not  in  any  of  the  published  versions  of  the  continental  Gesta  Romanorum. 


Ixxx  ORIGINALS   AND   ANALOGUES 

in  Philology  and  Literature,  VIII,  pp.  157! ;  (17)  an  Irish  story  under 
various  titles,  J.  Curtin,  Hero-Tales  of  Ireland,  London,  1894,  p.  332  (see 
Kittredge,  as  above,  pp.  166,  274,  for  eight  other  versions  of  this  story); 
(18)  a  Welsh  tradition1  first  reported  by  E.  Jones,  Musical  Relics  of  the 
Welsh  Bards,  London,  1794,  p.  75  ;  also,  with  unimportant  variations,  in 
(a)  lolo  Manuscripts,  ed.  Williams  and  Williams  for  the  Welsh  MSS. 
Society,  Llandovery,  1848,  p.  561,  (b)  a  Glasnys  version  reported  by  D.  E. 
Jenkins,  Bedd  Gelert,  its  Facts,  Fancies,  and  Folk-Lore,  Portmadoc,  1 899, 
pp.  58  f.,  and  (<:)  W.  R.  Spencer's  poem,  "  Beth  Gelert,  or  The  Grave  of 
the  Greyhound,'"  Poems,  London,  1835,  pp.  150  f.  ;2  (19)  a  Russian  popular 
story,  J.  Vogl,  Die  dltesten  Volksmdrchen  der  Russen,  Vienna,  1841, 
pp.  93  f. ;  (20)  a  Malay  story,  W.  E.  Maxwell,  Journal  of  the  Straits 
Branch  of  the  Royal  Asiatic  Society,  Singapore,  1881,  No.  VII,  p.  23; 
(21)  a  Mongolian  story,  B.  Bergmann,  Nomadische  Streifereien,  Riga,  1804, 
Pt.  I,  pp.  103  f. ;  (22)  a  Cinghalese  story,  H.  A.  Pieris,  Orientalist,  Kandy, 
1884,  I,  p.  213  (also  in  Panjab  Notes  and  Queries,  Allahabad,  1886,  III, 
pp.  148  f.);  (23)  a  Greek  story,  J.  G.  von  Hahn,  Griechische  und  albane- 
sische  Mdrchen,  Leipzig,  1864,  I,  pp.  207  f. ;  (24)  an  Indian  story,  Past 
Days  in  India,  by  "  a  late  customs'  officer,"  London,  1874,  pp.  92  f.  ; 
(25)  Mark  Twain,  A  Dog's  Story,  in  Harper's  Monthly  Magazine,  1904, 
CVIII,.  p.  1 6  ;  (26)  *8  Lonnrot,  Om  det  nord  tschudiska  spraket,  Helsing- 
fors,  1853,  p.  30  (cited  by  Benfey,  Pantschatantra,  II,  p.  483). 

Stories  of  the  same  genre  as  cants,  but  not  closely  analogous  to  it,  are 
to  be  found  in 

(27)  Grimm,  Kinder-  und  Hausmdrchen,  No.  48,  9th  ed.,  Berlin,  1870, 
pp.  1 88  f. ;  (28)  Panjab  Notes  and  Queries,  Allahabad,  1886,  III,  pp.  94  f. 
(also,  with  slight  variations,  in  Clouston's  A  Group  of  Eastern  Romances, 
Glasgow,  1889,  pp.  206  f.,  J.  H.  Knowles's  Folk-Tales  of  Kashmir,  Lon- 
don, 1888,  pp.  42  f.,  and  R.  Burton's  Sind  Revisited,  London,  1877, 
II,  pp.  303  f.);  (29)  C.  Rama  Ayen,  Vier  Geheimrath-Minister,  Ham- 
burg, 1855,  pp.  32  f.;  (30)  Pesikta  des  Rab  Kahana,  ed.  S.  Buber,  tr. 

1  Cants  has  been  localized  in  Wales,  at  Bedd  Gelert,  where  the  dog's  grave  is 
still  shown ;  also  in  Greece  (according  to  the  first  of  the  variants  mentioned),  in 
France  (according  to  the  Qth  variant),  and  at  several  places  in  India  (according 
to  the  27 th  variant). 

2  See  also  F.  O.  Ticknor's,  Gelert  in  The  Poems  of  Ticknor,  Philadelphia,  1879, 
p.  98. 

3  I  indicate  by  an  asterisk  all  analogues  cited  which  I  have  not  been  able  to 
verify. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  Ixxxi 

A.  Wiinsche,  Leipzig,  1885,  p.  102  ;  and  (31)  Thomas  Howard,  The  Seven 
Wise  Mistresses  of  Rome  (example  of  the  second  mistress),  London,  no 
date. 

In  i  the  protecting  animal  is  a  serpent;  in  2,  3^,  5,  7,  22,  and  23 
a  mongoose ;  in  3,  4/,  and  6  an  ichneumon  ;  in  40,  4^,  and  4^  a  weasel ; 
in  1 6  and  17  a  werewolf;  in  20  a  bear;  in  21  a  polecat;  in  23  a 
fisher's  son.  The  attacking  animal  is  a  wolf  in  1,15,  and  18  ;  a  hobgob- 
lin in  1 6  and  17  (except  in  the  Curtin  version);  a  tiger  in  20;  a  dragon 
in  23.  In  25  the  child  is  saved  by  the  dog  from  being  burned  to  death. 
In  3,  4,  5,  6  (as  in  the  Book  of  Sindibad)  the  child  had  been  left 
in  the  care  of  his  father;  14,  15,  18,  and  20  make  no  mention  of  the 
mother.  Only  seven  versions  reproduce  the  nurse  feature:  9,  10,  n, 
12,13,19,25;  and  in  9,  12,  13,  and  25  there  is  only  one  nurse,  nand 

19  are  derived  from  H,  which  they  track  pretty  closely.     10  also  had  its 
basis  in  some  version  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  probably  K.     14 
and  15  are  so  much  condensed  that  their  source  can  hardly  be  traced. 
In  i  the  dart  which  kills  the  snake  (here  the  protecting  animal)  also 
.kills  the  child.    In  16  and  17  (except  for  the  Curtin  version)  a  hand  is 
reached  down  a  chimney  in  an  .effort  to  steal  the  child ;  this  hand  is 
bitten  off  by  the  werewolf  and  laid  in  the  cradle  beside  the  child.    In 

20  the  child  flees  for  safety  into  a  jungle,  whence  it  emerges  only 
after  the  father's  return  and  after  his  discovery  of  the  carcass  of  the 
tiger.    In  23  the  snake  stings  the  child  on  the  neck  and  then  makes  his 
escape,  the  mongoose,  which  had  been  tied  near  by,  having  been  unable 
to  protect  the  child.    After  the  cobra  has  got  away,  however,  the  mon- 
goose manages  to  bite  the  string  in  two,  and  forthwith  hastens  to  the 
jungle  in   search  of  some  snakeroot.    Returning,  it  is  killed  by  the 
mother,  who  later  discovers  the  snakeroot,  applies  it  to  the  child's  neck, 
and  thus  saves  its  life.    In  23  the  fisher's  son,  having  been  accused  by 
the  queen  of  slaying  the  prince,  dies  of  remorse,  and  is  changed  into 
marble ;  the  princess  then,  in  the  course  of  three  years,  weeps  a  dishful 
of  tears,  which  she  pours  over  the  marble  form  of  the  fisher's  son,  and 
he  is  restored  to  life.    25,  the  most  modern  redaction  of  the  story,  runs 
briefly  as  follows  :  A  child  is  left  one  day  by  its  nurse  asleep  in  its  crib 
in  the  nursery.    The  pet  dog  of  the  family  is  also  in  the  room,  asleep 
on  a  bed.    A  spark  from  the  fireplace  lights  on  the  gauze  covering  of 
the  baby's  crib  and  sets  it  afire.    The  baby  awakes,  and  screams.    The 


Ixxxii  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

dog,  thus  aroused,  snatches  the  child  from  the  cradle,  and  rushes  with 
it  from  the  room  and  around  a  bend  in  the  hall.  Here  he  meets  his 
master,  who,  mistaking  the  situation,  begins  to  beat  him,  and  would 
have  killed  him,  but  is  interrupted  by  the  nurse,  who  has  meantime 
discovered  the  fire. 

None  of  the  last  five  analogues  (27-31)  reflect  cants  very  faithfully. 
In  2  7  dog,  child  and  wolf  all  appear,  but  the  dog,  an  old  and  worthless 
creature,  protects  the  child  from  the  wolf  in  accordance  with  a  former 
agreement  between  the  two,  the  dog's  purpose  being  to  prevent  his 
master's  carrying  out  a  threat  to  kill  him.  In  28  a  poor  man  owes  a 
debt,  and  having  nothing  wherewith  to  pay  it,  gives  up  his  dog.  The 
dog  protects  his  new  master's  property  so  faithfully  that  he  holds  the 
debt  to  be  canceled  and  sends  the  animal  back  to  his  former  master. 
The  latter  meets  the  dog  on  the  way,  and,  jumping  to  the  conclusion 
that  he  has  proved  unfaithful,  straightway  takes  his  life.  29  is  a  variant 
of  28;  the  dog  here,  however,  cancels  his  former  master's  debt  by 
killing  the  paramour  of  his  new  master's  wife.  30,  a  commentary  on 
Proverbs,  xvi.  7,  is  briefly  as  follows:  Some  shepherds,  having  milked 
their  flocks,  leave  the  milk  in  the  care  of  a  dog  ;  a  serpent  comes  and  licks 
up  some  of  the  milk  from  the  bucket.  When  the  shepherds  return  and 
are  about  to  drink  the  milk,  the  dog  falls  to  barking,  but  they  do  not 
understand  its  significance.  The  dog  then  drinks  some  of  the  milk,  and 
dies.  31  tells  of  a  pet  lion  which,  after  killing  a  wild  boar  that  was 
about  to  kill  its  mistress's  father,  is  himself  killed  by  a  steward  who 
has  misinterpreted  his  action  in  killing  the  boar. 

3.  Aper.  —  In  both  the  Book  of  Sindibad  and   The  Seven  Sages  of 


The  Eastern  and  the  Western  versions  of  aper  do  not  differ  mate- 
rially. The  most  striking  variation  is  in  the  manner  in  which  the  boar 
meets  his  death  ;  in  the  Western  versions  he  is  invariably  slain  by  the 
shepherd  ;  in  the  Eastern  versions,  however,  he  dies  either  in  conse- 
quence of  holding  his  head  back  too  long  in  expectation  of  more 
fruit,  or,  as  in  the  Sindibad-nameh,  in  consequence  of  rushing  too  vio- 
lently upon  the  trunk  of  the  tree  in  which  his  intended  victim  has 
taken  refuge.  Another  noteworthy  variation  is  the  employment  by  all 

1  It  appears  in  all  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  and  in  all  versions  of 
the  Book  of  Sindibad  except  the  Seven  Vezirs  and  the  Nachshebl  version.  It  is 
not  in  the  Dolopathos. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  Ixxxiii 

the  Eastern  versions  save  the  Mischle  Sindbad  of  a  monkey  in  the  place 
of  the  shepherd  of  other  versions.  Slight  variations  exhibited  by  the 
Western  variations  are  the  substitution  by  the  Middle  English  versions 
(except  D,  F,  and  As)  of  a  haw  tree  for  the  fig  tree,  and  the  addition  by 
H  of  a  motive  for  the  shepherd's  venturing  into  the  forest,  in  that  the 
emperor  of  the  land  had  offered  his  daughter  and  his  throne  to  any  one 
who  would  slay  the  boar.1 

More  or  less  distant  analogues  of  aper  appear  in 

(i)  J.  Vogl,  Die  dltesten  Volksmarchen  der  Russen,  Vienna,  1841, 
pp.  137  f ;  (2)  J.  G.  von  Hahn,  Griechische  und  albanesische  Marchen,  I, 
P-  J53;  (3)  O)  Eastwick,  The  Anvar-i  Suhaill,  pp.  526  f.,  (b)  Le  Cabi- 
net des  Fees,  Amsterdam,  1785,  XVIII,  pp.  26  f. ;  (4)  the  Sumsumara 
Jataka  (No.  208),  The  Jataka,  W.  H.  D.  Rouse,  Cambridge,  1895,  II, 
pp.  no  f.  ;  (5)  Pantschatantra,  Bk.  IV,  No.  i  :  (a)  Benfey,  II,  pp.  285  f., 
Schmidt,  pp.  252  f. ;  (£)  Dubois,  pp.  184  f. ;  (6)  the  Fables  of  Bid- 
pai* :  (a)  Bickell  and  Benfey,  pp.  48  f.  ;  (£)  Keith-Falconer,  pp.  158  f. ; 
(c)  Knatchbull,  pp.  258  f . ;  (^/)  Derenbourg  (the  Hebrew  version), 
pp.  127  f. ;  (<?)  Derenbourg  (the  Latin  version),  pp.  203  f. ;  (/")  Eastwick, 
pp.  371  f. ;  (g)  Le  Cabinet  des  Fees,  XVIII,  pp.  2f.3;  (7)  the  Katha- 
Sarit-Sagara,  Tawney,  II,  pp.  84  f.  ;  (8)  the  Cukasaptati,  story  64, 
R.  Schmidt,  Leipzig,  1893,  pp.  139  f. ;  (9)  the  Mahdvastu  Avadana,  tr. 
Ra.jendrala.la  Mitra,  The  Sanskrit  Buddhist  Literature  of  Nepal,  Calcutta, 
1882,  p.  138  ;  (10)  a  poem  by  "  Bruder  Werner,"  Minnesinger,  ed. 
F.  H.  von  der  Hagen,  Leipzig,  1838,  III,  p.  16;  (n)  a  modern  Russian 
story  reported  by  Rouse,  The  Jataka,  II,  p.  no,  note  i;  (12)  a  Japanese 
story  retold  by  W.  E.  Griffis,  Japanese  Fairy  World,  Schenectady,  N.Y., 
1880,  pp.  144  f.;  (13)  *Cariya-Pitaka,  III,  74;  (14)  *Markata-jataka, 
Mahavastu  II,  2o8.4 

The  first  of  the  analogues  cited  is  evidently  patterned  after  aper  as 
according  to  H,  for  it  reproduces  the  offer  of  daughter  and  crown  to  the 
one  who  shall  kill  the  boar.  But  it  also  makes  some  interesting  varia- 
tions ;  for  instance,  it  has  instead  of  the  fig  tree  of  the  usual  version  a 

1  Perhaps  borrowed  from  vaticinitim,  though  in  any  case  a  natural  variation. 

2  For  fuller  bibliographical  information  concerning  the  Pantschatantra  and  the 
various  Bidpai  redactions,  see  analogues  3  and  4  of  canis, 

8  It  will  be  observed  that  the  Anvdr-i  Suhaili  and  Le  Cabinet  des  Fees  each 
contain  two  versions  of  aper,  both  that  of  the  Book  of  Sindibdd  and  that  which 
appears  normally  in  other  Bidpai  collections. 

4  Cited  by  Rouse,  The  Jataka,  p.  no,  note  i. 


Ixxxiv  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

pear  tree,  in  which  there  is  a  grapevine  which  supplies  the  shepherd 
with  fruit ;  the  boar,  after  eating  his  fill  of  the  grapes,  falls  asleep  with- 
out the  usual  stimulus  of  the  shepherd's  scratching ;  the  shepherd  then 
beheads  him  with  an  ax.  The  second  analogue  resembles  most  the 
version  found  in  the  Sindibad-nameh,  but  doubtless  owes  nothing  to  it. 
It  has  to  do  with  a  boy  who,  having  been  chased  up  a  tree,  falls  out  of 
the  tree  in  consequence  of  the  boar's  violent  gnawing  at  its  roots ;  the 
boar  then  rushes  headlong  at  the  boy,  but,  missing  him,  comes  upon 
the  tree  with  such  force  that  he  strikes  his  tusks  clear  through  it  and 
dies.  3#  and  36  tell  the  story  as  according  to  the  Book  of  Sindibad, 
except  that  they  report  that  the  boar  comes  to  his  death  in  consequence 
of  an  attempt  to  climb  the  tree.  The  remaining  analogues  are  but 
distant  ones,  and  may  never  have  had  any  real  connection  with  aper 
or  its  original.  They  have  to  do  with  a  monkey  that  escapes  by  his 
presence  of  mind  from  some  hostile  animal  —  a  tortoise,  a  crocodile, 
a  whale,  or  some  other  sea  animal.  This  animal  is  at  first  a  friend  of  the 
monkey,  but  later,  at  the  instigation  of  his  wife,  who  is  very  jealous,  tries 
to  do  him  mortal  injury.  The  wife  feigns  illness  as  an  excuse  for  request- 
ing of  her  husband  the  heart  of  the  monkey,  which,  she  holds,  is  the 
only  remedy  for  her  ailment.  This  animal  is  transporting  the  monkey 
on  his  back  to  the  home  of  the  wife,  when  the  monkey,  learning  of  his 
former  friend's  sinister  intent,  announces  that  he  has  left  his  heart  on  a 
limb  of  the  tree  in  which  he  lives  (or,  as  with  5/;,  he  has  a  presentiment 
that  the  wife  is  convalescent),  and  so  he  is  permitted  to  return  to  his 
home ;  after  which  he  stoutly  refuses  to  leave  again.  1 1  substitutes  a 
fox  for  the  monkey,  a  whale  for  the  crocodile,  the  king  of  fishes  for  the 
crocodile's  wife.  In  12  both  monkey  and  tortoise  appear,  but  the 
queen  of  the  fishes  takes  the  place  of  the  monkey's  wife. 

4.  Medicus  appears  only  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome ',  but  the  various 
redactors  differ  considerably  in  their  report  of  it.  D,  for  instance,  makes 
no  mention  of  the  barrel  feature ;  and  the  Welsh  version  is  silent  both 
as  to  the  barrel  feature  and  as  to  the  disease  of  Hippocrates.  In  D* 
and  K  the  disease  of  Hippocrates  comes  by  way  of  retribution  for  his 
selfishness  in  sending  his  nephew  to  Hungary  rather  than  go  himself. 
The  barrel  feat  is  then  done  only  to  counteract  a  popular  loss  of  faith 
in  him  when  it  has  become  apparent  that  he  cannot  cure  himself.  It  is 
not  until  after  all  this,  and  just  before  his  death,  that  he  slays  his  nephew. 
With  H  the  nephew  is  Galen. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  Ixxxv 

I  have  found  but  two  variants  of  medicus :  (i)  Sansovino,  Cento 
Novelle  Scelte,  Day  II,  novel  4,  Venice,  1561,  pp.  72  f.  (the  same  in  a 
French  translation  in  Les  Facetievses  iovrnees,  by  G.  C.  D[e]  T[ours], 
Day  X,  novel  8,  Paris,  1583,  folio  348  f.) ;  (2)  The  Forty  Vezirs,  ed. 
E.  J.  W.  Gibb,  London,  1886,  pp.  37  f. 

"  The  first  of  these  is  based  on  A*,  which  it  tracks  pretty  closely.  Its 
chief  departures  from  A*  are  in  omitting  mention  of  the  diet  (beef  and 
water)  presented  by  the  nephew  for  the  cure  of  the  prince,  and  in 
reporting  that  the  father  of  the  prince  was  a  miller.  The  second  variant 
is  more  distant.  It  runs  briefly  as  follows :  A  young  prince  is  very  ill, 
and  his  physicians  can  do  nothing  for  him.  A  skillful  physician  from  a 
distance  is  sent  for ;  he  comes,  feels  the,  pulse  of  the  patient,  then  asks 
for  a  private  consultation  with  the  queen,  as  in  The  Seven  Sages.  The 
queen  admits  that  she  had  at  one  time  made  merry  with  another  than 
the  king.  The  physician  prescribes  a  diet  of  porridge,  curds  and  whey, 
and  brewis.1 

5 .  Gaza.2  —  In  all  versions  of  the  Western  group  of  The  Seven  Sages, 
including  the  Dolopathos. 

In  The  Seven  Sages  proper  the  story  is  very  simple ;  the  thief,  in  order 
to  escape  detection,  employs  only  one  ruse  :  in  order  to  account  for  the 
lamentations  of  the  dead  man's  family  he  stabs  himself  in  some  unvital 
part.8  The  Dolopathos  version,  on  the  other  hand,  is  very  elaborate  :  the 
thief  saves  himself  first  (as  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome]  by  stabbing  him- 
self ;  then  —  a  feature  peculiar  to  the  Dolopathos  —  by  asserting  that  a 
child  belonging  to  the  family,  which  is  crying  mysteriously,  is  crying  for 
its  mother ;  later  he  rescues  his  father's  body  by  fitting  himself  out  in 
clothes  that  are  white  on  one  side  and  black  on  the  other,  thereby 
deceiving  forty  guards,  half  of  whom  are  clad  in  white,  half  in  black ; 
next  he  lies  with  the  princess,  who  puts  a  black  mark  on  him,  but  he 

1  Professor  Kittredge  suggests  that  there  is  a  faint  resemblance  to  medicus  in 
one  of  Hamlet's  adventures  at  the  English  court  in   Saxo   Grammaticus,  ed. 
Holder,  Bk.  Ill,  pp.  93-94. 

2  For  literature  on  gaza  see  S.  Prato,  La  Leggenda  del  Tesoro  di  Rampsinite, 
Como,  1882;  Frazer,  Pausanias's  Description  of  Greece,  V,  pp.  176  f.;  Clouston, 
Popular  Tales  and  Fictions,  II,  pp.  115  f . ;  Keller,  Sept  Sages,  pp.  cxciii  f. ;  Keller, 
Dyocletiamts  Leben,  pp.  55  f. ;  R.  Kohler,  Kleinere  Schriften,  ed.  Bolte,  Berlin, 
1898,  I,  pp.  198  f.  (also  in  Orient  u.  Occident,  II,  pp.  115  f.) ;  A.  Schiefner,  Bul- 
letin de  VAcad.  des  Sciences  de  Saint- Peter sbourg,  1870,  XIV,  cols.  299  f. 

3  The  Welsh  version  omits  even  this  detail. 


Ixxxvi  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

marks  similarly  others  in  the  palace ;  finally  he  thwarts  an  attempt  to 
detect  him  by  giving  to  a  child,  who  has  singled  him  out  from  a  number 
of  suspects,  a  bird  in  exchange  for  a  knife  which  the  child  gives  him. 
He  is  rewarded  for  all  his  shrewdness  by  the  hand  of  the  princess. 
Besides  these  variations,  which  come  in  the  second  half  of  the  story, 
the  Dolopathos  introduces  another  striking  variation  at  the  very  begin- 
ning, in  relating  that  the  father  had  been  at  one  time  keeper  of  the 
treasury,  and  had  been  driven  to  steal  only  in  consequence  of  the  son's 
extravagance. 

Variants  of  gaza  are  found  as  follows  : 

(i)  Herodotus,  History,  Bk.  II,  §  121,  tr.  G.  C.  Macaulay,  London,  1890, 
I,  pp.  169  f.  (the  same  version,  with  very  slight  changes,  is  told  by  Bandello, 
Novelle,  I,  23,  tr.  J.  Payne,  London,  1890,  II,  pp.  27  f.,  and  by  A.  Alber- 
tinus,  Der  teutschen  recreation  oder  Lusthaus,  Rottwil,  1619,  pp.  I54f. ; 
it  was  the  Herodotus  version  also  that  inspired  Heine's  Rhampsinit, — 
see  Heinrich  Heines  sdmtliche  Werke,  ed.  E.  Elster,  Leipzig,  1890,  I, 
pp.  329  f.);  (2)  Pansanias's  Description  of  Greece,  Bk.  IX,  chap.  37,  ed. 
Frazer,  I,  pp.  491  f. ;  (3)  Charax  Pergamenus,  cEAA>;nKa,  Bk.  IV,  a  note 
on  Aristophanes,  Clouds,  1.  508  (see  Mueller,  Fragmenta  Historicorum 
Grcecorum,  Paris,  1849,  III,  p.  637);  (4)  E.  Legrand,  Recueil  de  Contes 
populaires  grecs,  Paris,  1881,  pp.  205  f. ;  (5)  Th.  Noldeke,  Zeitschr.  d.  d. 
morg.  Gesellsch.,  1888,  XLII,  pp.  68  f. ;  (6)  Ser  Giovanni,  Pecorone, 
Day  IX,  novel  i,  tr.  W.  G.  Waters,  London,  1897,  pp.  102  f.1  (the  same 
in  English  in  Painter,  Palace  of  Pleasure,  I,  No.  XLVIII,  ed.  Jacobs, 
London,  1890,  II,  pp.  8  f.);  (7)  Sansovino,  Cento  'Novelle  Scelte,  Day  III, 
novel  4,  Venice,  1561,  pp.  105  f. ;  (8)  L'Histoire  du  Chevalier  Berinus^ 
Pt.  Ill,  chap,  cxv  f.,  Paris,  [1525?];  (9)  Pitre,  Fiabe,  Novelle  e  Rac- 
conti  popolari  Siciliani,  No.  160,  Palermo,  1875,  IH»  PP-  21  of.  (for  a 
translation  of  this  story  see  T.  F.  Crane,  Italian  Popular  Tales,  Boston, 
1885,  pp.  163  f.);  ( I o)Pitrd,  I.e.,  No.  159,  III,  pp.  205  f.  ;  (n)  C.  Coronedi- 
Berti,  Novelle  popolari  bolognesi,  No.  2,  Bologna,  1864;  (12)  D.  Com- 
paretti,  Novelline  popolari  italiane,  No.  13,  Torino,  1875,  pp.  52  f. ; 
(13)  S.  Prato,  La  Leggenda  del  Tesoro  di  Rampsinite,  pp.  i  f. ;  (14)  Bar- 
toli  and  Sansoni,  Una  Novellina  e  una  Poesia  popolare  Gragnolesi,  Fir- 
enze,  1881,  pp.  7!;  (15)  J.  F.  Campbell,  Popular  Tales  of  the  West 

1  Joseph  Jacobs,  in  his  edition  of  Painter's  Palace  of  Pleasure,  I,  p.  Ixxvii, 
has  conjectured  —  happily,  I  think  —  that  it  was  upon  this  version  that  the  play 
Bendo  and  Richardo,  mentioned  by  Henslowe  (Diary,  ed.  Collier,  London,  1845, 
pp.  22,  24,  27)  was  based;  Bindo  and  Ricciardo  are  the  names  of  the  architect 
and  his  son  with  both  Ser  Giovanni  and  Painter. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  Ixxxvii 

Highlands,  Edinburgh,  1860,  I,  pp.  330  f: ;  (16)  F.  M.  Luzel,  Melusine, 
Paris,  1878, 1,  cols.  17  f.  (also  in  Luzelt  Contes populaires  de  Basse  Bretagne, 
Paris,  1887,  III,  pp.  351  f.);  (17)  Luzel,  Melusine,  I,  cols.  23  f.  (also  in 
Contes  pop.,  Ill,  pp.  367  f.);  (18)  an  early  Dutch  poem,  De  Deif  van 
Brugghe,  reprinted  by  G.  W.  Dasent,  Zeitschr.  f.  d.  Alterth.,  1845,  V, 
pp.  385  f . ;  (19)  Etlar,  Eventyr  og  Folkesagen  fra  Jylland,  Copenhagen, 
1847,  p.  165  (see  for  a  summary,  Clouston,  Popular  Tales  and  Fictions, 
P-  :39)l  (20)  J-  W.  Wolf,  Deutsche  Hausmarchen,  Gottingen,  1851, 
pp.  400  f . ;  (21)  H.  Prohle,  Mdrchen  fur  die  Jugend,  No.  38,  Halle,  1854 
(see  for  a  summary,  Kohler,  Kleinere  Schriften,  ed.  Bolte,  I,  p.  208); 
(22)  A.  von  Platen,  Der  Schatz  des  Rhampsinit,  Platen's  Gesammelte 
Werke,  Stuttgart,  [1869],  II,  pp.  if.;  (23)  I.  and  J.  Zingerle,  Kinder- 
und  Hausmarchen  aus  Suddeutschland,  Regensburg,  1854,  pp.  300  f. ; 
(24)  A.  Schiefner,  Bulletin  de  VAcad.  Imperiale  des  Sciences  de  Saint- 
Petersbourg,  1870,  XIV,  cols.  3Hf.  ;  (25)  L.  Leger,  Melusine,  1878,  I, 
cols.  136  f.  ;  (26)  W.  R.  S.  Ralston,  Tibetan  Tales,  London,  1882,  pp.  37  f. ; 

(27)  M.   Lidzbarski,  Geschichten    und  Lieder  aus   den  neu-aramdischen 
Handschriften  der  Konigl.  Bibliothek  zu  Berlin,  Weimar,  1896,  pp.  241  f. ; 

(28)  W.  Radloff,  Proben  der  Volkslit.  der  tiirkischen  Stamme  Siid-Sibe- 
riens,   St.   Petersburg,    1872,  IV,  pp.   193  f.;    (29)  W.  Goonetilleke,    The 
Orientalist,  Kandy,  1884,  I,  pp.  56  f.  (an  account  of  a  Cinghalese  version); 
(30)  Prym  and  Socin,  Der  neu-aramdische  Dialekt  des  Tur  "*Abdin,  Got- 
tingen, 1881,  Pt.  II,  pp.  I7of. ;  (31)  J.  Riviere,  Contes  populaires  de  la 
Kabylie,  Paris,   1882,  pp.  131.  ;  (32)  M.  Wardrop,  Georgian  Folk  Tales, 
London,  1894,  pp.  89  f. ;  (33)  Dozon,  Contes  albanais,  No.  15,  Paris,  1881, 
pp.  1241. ;  (34)  Socin  and  Stumme,  Abhandlungen  der  phil.-hist.  Classe 
der  konigl.  sdchsischen  Gesellsch.  der  Wissenschaften,  Leipzig,  1895,  XV, 
pp.  107  f.;  (35)  F.   Liebrecht,  Jahrb.  f.   rom.  u.   engl.  Lit.,   1870,    XI, 
pp.  367  f. ;  (36)  A.  von  Suttner,  Das  Magazin  fiir  die  Lit.  des  In-  und 
Auslandes,  Leipzig,  1883,  XIV,  pp.  541  f . ;  (37)  V.  Largeau,  Flore  Saha- 
rienne,  Geneva,  1879,  PP-  2^  f-  5  (38)  Katha-Sarit-Sagara,  ed.  Tawney,  II, 
pp.  93  f.  ;  (39)  *Hans  Sachs,  a  Meisterlied  of  December  20,  1540,  in  the 
Erlanger  MS.  No.   1668,  folio  3s8b  (see  Kohler,  Kleinere   Schriften,  I, 
p.  207,  note);  (40)  *a  Danish  version,  mention  of  which  is  made  by  Prato, 
p.  52,  on  the  authority  of  C.  Nyrop  ;  (41)  *  three  unpublished  Portuguese 
variants  in  the  collection  of  Z.  Consiglieri  Pedroso  (according  to  Prato, 
p.  23,  who  cites  Pedroso,  Ensaios  Criticos,  Porto,  1881,  III,  p.  5). 

Stories  related,  perhaps,  to  gaza,  but  obviously  not  closely  related,  are 
reported  by 

Radloff,'  Proben  d.  Volkslit.  d.  tiirk.  Stamme  Sild-Siberiens,  III, 
pp.  332  f.  ;  E.  Cosquin,  Romania,  1881,  X,  pp.  162  f.  (several  stories  of 


Ixxxviii  ORIGINALS  AND   ANALOGUES 

the  gaza  type,  with  discussion  of  them);  Leskien  and  Brugmann,  Litou- 
ische  Volkslieder  uttd  Marchen,  Strassburg,  1882,  pp.  480  f.  ;  M.  Drago- 
manov,  Revue  des  Traditions  populaires,  Paris,  1895,  X,  pp.  204  f.  ; 
Straparola,  Nights,  I,  2,  tr.  W.  G.  Waters,  London,  1894,  II,  pp.  115  f.: 
Clouston,  Popular  Tales  and  Fictions,  II,  pp.  143  f.  and  480  f.  (summaries 
of  a  Mongolian  and  an  Egyptian  story);  Lai  Behari  Day,  Folk  Tales  of 
Bengal,  London,  1883,  pp.  i6of. 

Only  one  of  the  variants  mentioned,  that  of  Sansovino  (7),  tells  the 
story  in  its  simpler  form  as  found  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome.  This 
version  must  have  been  derived  from  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  since  it 
differs  from  it  in  only  one  minor  detail :  in  that  the  son  stabs  his  mother 
rather  than  himself.  All  the  other  variants,  I  believe,  go  back,  either 
directly  or  through  some  other  medium  than  The  Seven  Sages  proper, 
to  the  version  of  Herodotus  (i).  They  are,  accordingly,  with  only  one 
or  two  exceptions,  fuller  than  is  the  version  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome. 
The  expansion  comes  in,  in  part,  at  the  beginning,  where  other  feats  of 
roguery,  performed  by  the  robber  before  breaking  into  the  king's 
treasury,  are  detailed ;  but  the  chief  expansion  always  comes  with  the 
second  half  of  the  story.  The  ruses  employed  by  the  thief  to  escape 
detection  afford  opportunity  for  almost  endless  elaboration,  and  the 
story-teller  has  in  many  cases  taken  liberal  advantage  of  this  opportunity. 

In  6,  8,  10,  15,  1 6,  17,  1 8,  21,  25,  as  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome, 
the  robber  cuts  himself  so  as  to  explain  the  conduct  of  the  dead  robber's 
wife  or  other  relative.  In  16  he  stabs  his  sister;  in  29  he  falls  down  a 
tree ;  in  36  he  throws  a  child  of  the  dead  robber  into  the  fire.  In  4,  5, 
12,  28,  32,  35,  37  the  wife  (or  other  relative),  in  order  to  account  for 
her  emotion  on  witnessing  the  headless  corpse  exposed  on  the  streets  of 
the  city,  lets  fall  and  breaks  an  earthenware  vessel  (jar,  goblet,  bottle, 
or  the  like)  which  she  is  carrying,  —  this,  I  should  add,  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  the  youthful  robber.  In  i,  5,  9,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  20,  21, 
22,  23,  25,  28,  32,  38  the  robber  intoxicates  (or  drugs)  the  guards  that 
have  been  set  to  watch  the  headless  body,  then  steals  the  body  away 
from  them  and  gives  it  burial;  in  27  and  30  he  sings  the  guards  to  sleep. 
In%i8,  after  intoxicating  the  guards,  he  dresses  them  up  in  monks' 
clothes.  In  9,  16,  34  he  frightens  the  guards  away  from  the  body  by 
means  of  a  flock  of  goats  to  whose  heads  he  has  attached  pots  contain- 
ing candles.  In  4,  27,  28,  30,  31,  32,  35  he  steals  some  money  that  has 
been  scattered  (or  otherwise  exposed)  by  the  king;  in  34  he  steals  a 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  Ixxxix 

golden  bowl;  in  16,  the  king's  crown.  In  4,  6,  15,  16,  23,  25,  27,  31, 
32,  34  he  steals  some  animal  (camel,  goat,  gazelle,  stag,  hind,  calf,  pig, 
or  ostrich)  belonging  to  the  king.  The  king  sends  out  beggars  to  ask 
for  a  piece  of  this  animal's  flesh,  hoping  thereby  to  detect  the  thief ;  the 
mother  (or  other  kinsman  of  the  murdered  man)  stupidly  gives  one  of 
these  beggars  a  piece  of  the  fresh  meat;  in  6,  9,  25,  27,  31,  32  the 
young  thief  kills  the  beggar ;  in  4,  23,  34,  35  he  discovers  that  the  beg- 
gar has  marked  his  house,  and  so  he  marks  other  houses.  In  6,  8,  18, 
28  he  lies  with  the  "princess,  and  she  sets  a  black  mark  on  him,  but  he 
marks  similarly  others  in  the  palace  ;  in  25,  31,  34,  36  the  princess  clips 
off  a  bit  of  his  beard  or  his  mustache,  and  he  does  the  same  for  others l ; 
in  12  she  cuts  off  a  piece  of  his  garment.  In  4,  22,  28,  35,  37  the 
young  robber  escapes  from  the  princess  by  leaving  with  her  the  hand  of 
the  murdered  robber.  In  15,  26,  36,  as  in  the  Dolopathos,  he  is 
detected  by  a  child,  who  gives  him  an  apple  or  a  knife ;  he  also  gives 
the  child  some  gift,  and  then  contends  that  this  was  the  motive  of  the 
child's  gift  to  him.  In  28  a  camel  with  extraordinary  divining  powers 
kneels  before  his  door  ;  his  house  is  then  marked,  but  he  marks  similarly 
other  houses.  In  32  a  hind  detects  him  in  like  fashion,  and  he  kills  it. 
In  1 2  he  exposes  a  man  of  straw  at  the  window  of  the  king's  bedroom, 
and  thus  draws  the  king  out  of  the  palace,  after  which  he  enters  and 
steals  a  sheet  from  the  latter' s  bed. 

In  4,  5,  25,  26,  27,  30,  35,  36,  37  the  thieves  are  uncle  and  nephew; 
in  i,  2,  22,  28,  31,  38  they  are  brothers;  in  10,  14,  15,  17,  18,  20,  21, 
23,  33  they  are  not  related  to  each  other;  in  the  remaining  versions 
they  are  father  and  son,  as  in  the  Dolopathos  and  The  Seven  Sages  of 
Rome.  In  6,  17,  18,  as  in  the  Dolopathos,  the  hole  through  which  the 
robber  had  entered  the  treasury  is  discovered  by  burning  some  green 
straw  in  the  building  and  then  noting  how  the  smoke  makes  its  escape ; 
in  31,  34,  35  the  hole  is  discovered  by  sealing  up  the  treasury  and  then 
observing  how  any  light  is  admitted  to  the  building.  In  4,  5,  12, 17, 1 8, 
23,  25,  29,  34  these  means  of  discovering  the  opening  in  the  well  are 
recommended  by  some  old  man,  generally  a  robber.  In  25  father  and 
son  enter  the  king's  larder  by  way  of  a  tunnel;  the  father  eats  so  much 
that  he  is  unable  to  make  his  way  out,  and  the  son  beheads  him.  In  36 

1  There  is  a  similar  motif  in  Boccaccio's  Decameron,  Day  III,  novel  2  ;  see 
Landau,  Quellen  des  Dekameron,  2d  ed.,  pp.  70  f.  See  also  Liebrecht's  note  on 
this  story  in  Dunlop's  History  of  Fiction,  ed.  Wilson,  London,  1896,  II,  pp.  80  f. 


XC  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

both  nephew  and  uncle  fall  into  the  pitch,  but  the  son  manages  to  extri- 
cate himself.  In  33  twelve  robbers  break  into  the  king's  stable ;  the 
master  thief  (a  boy),  who  has  been  set  to  watch  at  the  door,  raises  a  hue 
and  cry,  and  beheads  the  robbers  one  by  one  as  they  come  out.  In  i, 
4,  6,  12,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  21,  22,  26,  27,  30,  31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36 
the  young  thief  ultimately  marries  the  princess. 

6.  Puteus.1  —  In  all  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  except  the 
Italian  prose  version  edited  by  Varnhagen ;  also  in  the  Dolopathos,  but 
in  a  condensed  form  ;  not  in  the  Book  of  Sindibad. 

In  the  Dolopathos,  putens  is  appended,  incongruously  enough,  to 
indusa,  —  the  wife  who  has  figured  in  indusa  becoming  once  again,  in 
the  appended  story,  the  object  of  a  husband's  jealousy,  and  being  locked 
in  prison  by  this  second  husband  as  in  indusa.  All  mention  of  the  cur- 
few law  is  omitted  in  the  Dolopathos,  and  so  also  with  the  punishment 
which,  in  conformity  to  this  law,  was  meted  out  to  the  husband.  The 
wife  admits  her  husband  late  in  the  night  after  he  has  promised  never 
to  lock  her  up  again ;  and  on  the  next  day  he  orders  the  tower  to  be 
torn  down.  D  falls  in  with  the  Dolopathos  —  quite  by  accident,  of 
course  —  in  omitting  mention  of  the  curfew  law.  In  L  and  D  the  wife, 
when  overtaken  in  her  infidelity,  pleads  that  she  had  left  the  house 
because  of  illness ;  in  H,  because  her  mother,  who  was  very  ill,  had  sent 
for  her.  Another  variation  made  by  H  is  the  wife's  making  her  last  will 
and  testament  before  dropping  the  stone  into  the  well.  In  D  the  hus- 
band tells  the  watchman  that  he  had  left  his  chamber  because  he  heard 
outside  a  pet  spaniel  that  had  been  missing.  In  D*  and  K  the  husband, 
after  his  untoward  adventures,  falls  sick  and  dies. 

Variants  or  derivates  of  puteus  are  to  be  found  as  follows : 

(i)  Cukasaptati,  story  16,  tr.  R.  Schmidt,  Leipzig,  1893,  pp.  107  f . ; 
(2)  Petrus  Alphonsus,  Disciplina  Clericalis,  No.  15,  ed.  F.  W.  V.  Schmidt, 
Berlin,  1827,  pp.  53  f.  (the  same  in  French,  Le  Castoiement  d^un  Pere  a 
son  Fits,  No.  12,  ed.  M.  Roesle,  Munich,  1899,  pp.  24  f. ;  also,  in  a  free 
paraphrase,  in  An  Alphabet  of  Tales,  No.  DXXXVIII,  ed.  M.  M.  Banks, 
London,  1905,  II,  pp.  362  f.  [£\  E.  T.  S.,  CXXVII]);  (3)  Adolphus, 
Fables,  No.  vi,  P.  Leyser,  Historia  Poetarum  et  Poematum  medii  Aevi, 
Halle,  1721,  pp.  201 8  f.  (error  for  1118);  (4)  Legrand  d'Aussy,  Fabliaux 

1  See  Keller,  Sept  Sages,  pp.  clxxxix  f. ;  Oesterley,  Paulis  Schimpf  imd  Ernst, 
pp.  549  f.  ,  Clouston,  Book  of  Sindibdd,  p.  333 ;  and  Landau,  Qttellen  des  Deka- 
meron,  2d  ed.,  pp.  79,  92,  262  f. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  xci 

ou  Contes,  3d  ed.,  Paris,  1829,  III,  pp.  146  f. ;  (5)  Hans  Sachs,  Das  Weib 
im  Brunnen,  ed.  Keller,  Stuttgart,  1875,  IX,  pp.  96  f. ;  (6)  Boccaccio, 
Decameron,  Day  VII,  novel  4  ;  (7)  Hugo  von  Trimberg,  Der  Renner, 
Frankfurt-am-Main,  1549,  p.  66* ;  (8)  Moliere,  George  Dandin,  1668  (the 
same  in  English,  with  slight  additions  and  entire  change  of  names,  in  Bet- 
terton's  The  Amorous  Widow;  or  Wanton  Wife;  and  in  the  condensed 
form  of  this  play,  Barnaby  Brittle;  or,  A  Wife  at  her  Wifs  End;  a 
farce,  London,  1782);  (9)  a  Sussex  tradition  recorded  as  an  authentic 
story  in  a  newspaper  and  thence  reported  by  S.  Baring-Gould,  Curious 
Myths  of  the  Middle  Ages,  new  ed.,  pp.  143  f. ;  (10)  *  Von  eynem  dozen 
ivybe,  in  MS.  1279  of  Leipzig  University  Library  (see  Keller,  Sept  Sages, 
p.  cxcii);  (i  i)  *  H.  Zschorke,  Peter  Rothbart,  a  play  (see  Keller,  p.  cxciii).1 

It  is  probable  that  most,  if  not  all,  of  these  variants  were  ultimately 
derived  from  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  from  which  they  differ  materi- 
ally only  in  that  they  omit  mention  of  the  curfew  law.  Moliere  (8) 
introduces  a  slight  variation,  in  that  the  wife,  instead  of  throwing  a  stone 
into  the  well,  threatens  to  stab  herself  to  death.  With  the  Sussex  ver- 
sion (9)  she  throws  a  log  in  the  well ;  she  had  been  teaing  and  gossiping 
at  a  neighbor's.  With  i,  2,  4,  5,  8  the  parents  or  some  close  kinsmen 
of  the  wife  are  called  on  to  witness  the  infamy  of  the  husband  after  he 
has  been  locked  out.  With  Boccaccio  (6)  the  wife's  friends  come  to 
her  aid  and  give  the  husband  a  beating.  With  Hans  Sachs  (5)  the  hus- 
band had  been  out  carousing,  and  had  returned  home  late ;  it  was  still 
later,  after  the  husband  had  been  put  to  bed,  that  the  wife  went  out  to 
meet  her  paramour. 

7.  Senescalcus.  —  In  all  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages,  whether  Eastern 
or  Western,  except  the  Habicht  text  of  the  Seven  Vezirs,  the  version  of 
Nachshebl,  the  Dolopathos,  the  "  Versio  Italica  "  (I),  and  the  Middle 
English  manuscript  F. 

In  the  Book  of  Sindibdd  the  story  shows  the  following  variations  from 
the  typical  form  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome:  the  part  of  the  seneschal 
is  taken  by  a  bath  man ;  it  is  the  wife  who  is  spokesman  when  the  hus- 
band returns  in  the  morning  to  protest  that  it  is  time  for  her  to  return 

1  Pauli's  story  cited  by  Oesterley  (Schimpf  und  Ernst,  p.  375)  as  a  variant  of 
pt^is  seems  to  me  to  be  very  distantly  related  to  it,  if  at  all ;  so  with  Dunlop's 
proposed  analogue,  Cardinal  Bibbiena's  La  Calandria  {History  of  Fiction,  ed. 
Wilson,  II,  p.  112).  Dunlop's  citation  of  "  one  of  Dancourt's  plays  "  as  an  analogue 
(p.  112)  I  have  been  unable  to  verify. 


xcii  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

home ;  no  mention  is  made  of  the  prince's  banishing  the  husband ; 
the  husband  either  hangs  himself  or  dies  of  sorrow.  The  Western 
versions  exhibit  more  numerous  variations,  but  the  only  version  that 
alters  the  story  radically  is  the  Welsh,  which  condenses  it  to  about 
ten  lines.  With  D*  and  H  the  seneschal  acts  as  leech ;  with  K  a  leech 
is  called  in,  but,  since  he  cannot  effect  a  cure,  the  seneschal  is  resorted 
to.  With  D*  the  seneschal  requires  the  king  to  remain  in  his  chamber 
for  seven  weeks.  The  reward  offered  by  the  king  ranges  from  nine 
marks  in  the  Welsh  version  to  one  thousand  florins  in  H.  With  L,  when 
the  seneschal  returns  in  the  morning,  he  reminds  the  king  that  there 
had  been  an  understanding  that  the  woman  he  had  procured  should 
leave  without  having  her  identity  known  to  any  one.  In  all  versions 
except  D*  and  K  the  king  threatens  to  have  the  steward  put  to  death 
unless  he  leave  the  country  before  sunset. 

Of  variants  of  senescalcus  there  are  happily  but  few.  I  know  of  only 
three  :  (i)  Gower,  Confessio  Amantis,  Bk.  V,  11.  2643-2825,  ed.  G.  C. 
Macaulay,  London,  1901,  II,  pp.  19  f.  (E.  E.  T.  S.,  Ex.  Ser.,  LXXXII)  ; 
(2)  Hitopadesa,  Bk.  I,  Nos.  8  and  9,  tr.  E.  Lancereau,  Paris,  1852, 
pp.  78  f. ;  (3)  Masuccio,  Novellino,  No.  xv,  tr.  W.  G.  Waters,  London, 
1895,  I,  pp.  223  f.1 

The  Gower  version  is  clearly  based  on  some  version  of  The  Seven 
Sages  of  Rome,  —  Macaulay  (II,  p.  496)  thinks  on  L.2  The  Sanskrit 
analogue  (2)  is  perhaps  related  to  senescalcus,  but  is  free.  The  story  is 
briefly  as  follows  :  A  prince,  having  fallen  in  love  with  the  wife  of  a 
merchant's  son,  finds  his  love  returned,  but  the  wife  nevertheless 
remains  deaf  to  all  dishonorable  proposals.  The  prince  takes  the  hus- 
band into  his  employ.  Soon  afterward  he  commissions  the  husband  to 
procure  a  woman  for  his  enjoyment,  which  the  latter  does ;  the  prince 
gives  her  money,  but  does  not  defile  her.  The  husband,  inspired  by 
this  with  confidence  and  carried  away  by  cupidity,  takes  his  wife  to 
the  prince  the  next  time  he  is  commissioned  to  find  a  woman.  The 
prince  enjoys  her  carnally,  and  the  husband  is  filled  with  regret.  The 
version  of  Masuccio  (3)  is  also  free.  Here  a  cardinal  bribes  a  penurious 

1  The  two  stories  in  the  Decameron  (Day  III,  novel  5,  and  Day  II,  novel  10) 
mentioned  by  Landau  (Quellen  des  Dekameron,  2d  ed.,  p.  86)  as  analogues,  are 
too  remotely  analogous  to  be  included  in  this  list. 

2  Though  in  omitting  mention  of  the  diet  of  bread  and  water  it  associates  itself 
with  D, 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  xciii 

husband  to  allow  his  wife  to  spend  the  night  with  him.  The  hus- 
band comes  for  his  wife  before  day  the  next  morning ;  the  wife  gives 
him  the  money  that  had  been  agreed  on  between  him  and  the  cardinal, 
and  refuses  to  return  to  him.  In  neither  the  Italian  nor  the  Sanskrit 
story  is  mention  made  of  the  prince's  (or  cardinal's)  disease ;  both  are 
silent  also  as  to  any  punishment  meted  out  to  the  husband. 

8.  Tentamina.1  —  Only  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome. 

There  are  numerous  slight  variations.  K,  D*,  and  the  Welsh  version 
omit  mention  of  the  second  marriage,  and  H  and  D  of  both  first  and 
second.  With  K  the  wife  first  has  an  opportunity  to  relate  her  woes  to 
her  mother  on  the  occasion  of  an  annual  feast ;  with  L  and  the  Welsh 
version  she  meets  her  mother  first  after  the  expiration  of  one  year  of 
her  married  life.  With  L,  D*,  and  K  the  mother  merely  proposes  that 
the  husband  shall  be  tested,  the  wife  contriving  the  tests.  With  L,  H, 
and  K  the  tree  is  cut  down  while  the  husband  is  hunting ;  with  these 
versions,  also,  the  wife  first  orders  the  gardener  to  cut  down  the  tree, 
but  when  he  demurs,  takes  the  ax  and  hews  it  down  herself.  With  H  the 
wife  kills  the  dog  by  throwing  it  against  the  wall  of  their  chamber ;  the 
dog  had  offended  the  wife  by  jumping  on  her  bed.  With  F  an  additional 
test  —  the  killing  of  the  husband's  hawk — is  inserted  after  the  second 
test.  With  D*  and  K  the  priest  of  whom  the  wife  is  enamored  is  called 
Guillaume.  The  excuse  the  wife  gives  to  her  lord  for  leaving  the  table 
on  the  occasion  of  the  third  test  is,  with  L,  that  she  wished  to  get  his 
knife  and  his  chessboard ;  with  H,  to  get  her  own  knife ;  with  F,  to 
bring  some  wine.  With  D  the  wife  is  bled  on  the  night  of  the  feast 
after  all  the  guests  have  left ;  instead  of  the  barber  a  brother  aids  the 
husband.  L,  D*,  K,  and  D  omit  the  mother's  bit  of  counsel  with  which 
Y,  H,  and  the  Welsh  version  conclude. 

Derivates  from  tentamina  are  found  in 

(i)  Legrand  d'Aussy,  Fabliaux  ou  Contes,  3d  ed.,  Ill,  pp.  165  f.  ;  (2) 
Les  Faveurs  et  les  Disgraces  de  V Amour  ou  les  Amans  heureux,  La  Haye, 
1721,  II,  pp.  209  f.  (the  same  in  German  in  E.  von  Billow's  Novellenbuch, 
Leipzig,  1836,  III,  pp.  428  f.)  ;  and  (3)  Bonaventure  des  Periers,  Les  Contes 
oil  les  nouvelles  Recreations  et  joyoux  Devis,  No.  cxxvn,  see  "  Pantheon 
Litt.",  Vieux  Conteurs  fr.,  ed.  P.  L.  Jacob,  Paris,  1841,  pp.  299  f.  Keller, 

1  See  Clouston,  Book  of  Sindibdd,  p.  337  ;  Keller,  Sept  Sages,  pp.  cci  f. ;  Keller, 

Dyocletiamts  Leben,  pp.  56  f. 


xciv  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

in  his  Dyocletianus  Leben,  p.  57,  also  cites  (4)*  PreVost,  Contes,  aventures 
et  fails  singuliers,  Bk.  II  ;  and  (5)*  Holder,  Franzosische  Lesebuch,  p.  I56.1 

The  first  of  these  variants  was  derived  from  L,  to  which  it  adheres 
very  closely.  The  second  and  third  go  back  to  H.  According  to  the 
second  the  tree  which  the  wife  cuts  down  is  a  laurel.  The  third 
derivate  is  somewhat  condensed. 

9.  Virgilius.2  —  Only  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome. 

The  story  falls  into  two  parts :  the  first  (/)  telling  of  the  image  with 
the  bow  and  arrow ;  the  other  (If)  telling  of  the  image  with  the  mirror, 
the  Salvatio  Romae  of  Virgilian  fable.  The  most  radical  variations  are 
those  of  D,  the  Welsh  version,  and  H.  Both  D  and  the  Welsh  version 
omit  /  altogether ;  H  reverses  the  order  of  /  and  //.  With  H,  too 
(under  the  influence,  probably,  of  the  Alexander  Neckam  version  and 
the  Gesta  Romanorum),  instead  of  the  image  with  a  mirror  we  have 
a  large  figure  holding  in  its  hand  a  golden  apple;  this  figure  is  sur- 
rounded by  as  many  smaller  figures  as  Rome  has  provinces,  each  of 
them  having  in  its  hand  a  bell  with  which  it  signals  to  the  central 
figure  whenever  the  province  over  which  it  watches  rebels.  D  attributes 
the  Salvatio  Romae  to  Merlin.  Among  minor  variations  are  the  fol- 
lowing :  the  king  at  the  time  of  the  story  is  Octavius  Caesar  (H) ;  is 
"  Gracian  "  (the  Welsh  version) ;  beneath  the  image  with  the  bow  are 
two  fountains,  one  of  cold  water,  one  of  warm  (H) 3 ;  the  part  of  the 
Lombard  is  played  by  the  archbishop  of  Carthage  (D*,  K) ;  the  part 

1  A  distant  parallel  to  tentamina  is  also  found  in  Boccaccio,  Decameron,  Day 
VII,  novel  9.    Here  Lydia,  the  wife  of  Nicostratus,  is  in  love  with  Pyrrhus.    To 
convince  Pyrrhus  of  her  love,  she  first  kills  her  husband's  hawk,  then  sends  him 
a  lock  of  her  husband's  beard,  and  finally  presents  him  with  one  of  her  husband's 
best  teeth. 

2  For  the  most  valuable  discussion  of   Virgilius  and  its  analogues,  see  Compa- 
retti,  Vergil  in  the  Middle  Ages,  tr.  E.  F.  M.  Benecke,  London,  1895,  PP-  257  f- » 
Keller,  Sept  Sages,  pp.  cciiif. ;  Keller,  Dyocletianus  Leben,  pp.  57  f. ;  Clouston,  On 
the  Magical  Elements  in  Chaucer's  "  Squire's  Tale"  in  Chaucer  Society  Publications, 
1888-1890,  pp.  299  f.  ;  K.  L.  Roth,  Germania,  1859,  IV,  pp.  257  f . ;  Der  Kaiser- 
chronik,  ed.  H.  F.  Massmann,  Quedlinburg,   1854,  III,  pp.  421  f. ;  E.  du  Meril, 
Melanges  archeol.  et  litt.,  Paris,  1850,  pp.  425  f.  ;   Dunlop,  History  of  Prose  Fiction, 
ed.  Wilson,  I,  pp.  431  f. ;   W.  J.  Thorns,  Early  English  Prose  Romances,  2d  ed., 
London,  1858,  II,  pp.  8  f. ;  and  Oesterley,  Gesta  Romanorum,  p.  742. 

8  For  these  fountains,  also  attributed  to  Virgil  by  Vincent  of  Beauvais,  Alex- 
ander Neckam,  Burley,  Conrad  of  Querfurt,  and  others,  see  Comparetti,  pp.  259, 
262,  270,  293,  and  MasAiann,  p.  447. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  XCV 

of  the  king  of  Apulia,  by  the  king  of  Hungary  (D*,  K),  or  the  king  of 
Poland  (the  Welsh  version),  or  merely  three  kings  (H)  ;  the  part  of  the 
two  brothers,  by  four  sages  (D*,  K),  or  four  knights  (H)  ;  the  brothers 
bury  their  gold  under  the  city  gates  (L,  H),  a  part  of  it  in  a  deep  ditch, 
the  rest  at  three  several  crossways  (D*) ;  no  mention  is  made  of  setting 
the  foundations  of  the  tower  afire  (L,  K,  H,  D)  ;  instead  of  melted  gold 
in  the  conclusion  to  the  story  powdered  gold  is  used  (D).1 

There  appears  to  be  no  literary  version  that  combines  the  two  parts 
(/  and  //)  of  the  story  as  in  The  Seven  Sages.2 

Parallels  to  73  are  found  as  follows  : 

(i)  Arnold  of  Liibeck,  Chronica  Slavorum,  Bk.  IV,  chap.  19  (see  Scrip- 
tores  rerum  Brunsvicensium,  Hanover,  1710,  II,  p.  698)  ;  (2)  Heinrich  von 
Veldeke,  Eneide,  11.  9514^,  ed.  O.  Behaghel,  Heilbronn,  1882,  pp.  383  f.  ; 
(3)  Adenet  le  Roi,  Cleomades,  11.  1723  f.,  ed.  A.  van  Hasselt,  Brussels,  1865, 
I»  P«  55  >  (4)  Virgilius,  ed.  Thorns,  Early  English  Prose  Romances,  II, 
pp.  42  f.  ;  (5)  Image  du  Monde,  ed.  E.  du  Me*ril,  Melanges  archfol.  et  lift., 
pp.  457  f.  ;  (6)  C.  F.  Hock,  Gerbert,  Vienna,  1837,  pp.  163  f.  ;  (7)  William 
of  Malmesbury,  Chronicle,  tr.  Giles,  London,  1883,  pp.  176  f.  ;  (8)  Gesta 
Romanorum,  ed.  Herrtage,  1879,  chap.  3,  E.  E.  T.S.,  Ex.  Ser.,  XXXIII, 
pp.  7  f.  ;  ed.  Oesterley,  chap.  107,  pp.  438  f.  ;  (9)  Longfellow,  Morituri 
Salutamus,  11.  167  f. 

The  only  one  of  these  which  was  probably  derived  from  The  Seven 
Sages  is  the  third.  According  to  i  the  bronze  statue  was  situated  in 
Naples,  and  protected  the  city  from  Vesuvius;  in  2,  3,  4,  5,  as  in  The 
Seven  Sages,  the  arrow  was  aimed  at  a  fire  (or  a  lamp),  which  it  extin- 
guished when  shot  off.  The  last  four  parallels  (6,  7,  8,  9)  relate  the 
well-known  story  of  the  image  bearing  the  inscription,  "  Hie  percute," 
which  directed  one  to  a  cavern  containing  another  image,  which  held 
a  bow  with  arrow  aimed  at  a  brilliant  carbuncle.  According  to  the 
Anglo-Latin  version  of  7,  Diocletian  was  the  emperor  in  whose  reign 
these  images  were  set  up. 

1  The  story  of  the  death  of  Crassus  as  related  in  The  Seven  Sages  seems  to 
have  been  popular  in  semi-historical  works.  Lydgate  tells  the  story  (Bochas,  Bk.  VI, 
chap,  v,  London,  1527,  p.  i54a) ;  and  he  also  tells  a  similar  story  of  the  death  of 
Galba  (Bochas,  Bk.  VII,  chap,  vn,  p.  170*). 

2  The  nearest  approach  to  a  fusion  of  the  two  that  I  have  found  is  the  much 
garbled  version  in  von  der  Hagen's  Gesammtabenteuer,  II,  pp.  525  f. 

3  See  in  particular  for  Virgilius  I,  Comparetti,  pp.  306  f.,  and  Massmann, 
pp.  446,  449  f. 


xcvi  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

Part  7/1  of  Virgilius  has  had  much  wider  currency.  It  occurs  as 
follows  : 

(i)  Gower,  Confessio  Amantis,  Bk.  V,  11.  2031-2204,  ed.  Macaulay,  II, 
pp.  3  f. ;  (2)  Ser  Giovanni,  Pecorone,  Day  V,  novel  I,  tr.  Waters,  pp.  67  f.  ; 
(3)  Sansovino,  Novelle  Antiche  Scelte,  Day  V,  novel  10,  pp.  i66bf.  (the 
same  in  French  in  G.  C.  D[e]  T[ours],  Les  Facetievses  iovrnees,  Day  VII, 
novel  9,  pp.  237^  f.)  ;  (4)  Virgilius,  ed.  Thorns,  II,  pp.  37  f.;  (5)  Cleomades, 
11.  1691  f.,  ed.  van  Hasselt,  I,  p.  54  ;  (6)  Renars  contrefais,  as  found  in  MS. 
Bib.  du  Roi  6985  (see  for  an  extract  containing  the  part  having  to  do  with 
Virgil,  du  Me'ril,  I.e.,  p.  441)  ;  (7)  a  variant  found  in  a  Gotha  manuscript, 
reported  by  F.  Wiistenfeld,  Orient  und  Occident,  I,  pp.  331  f . ;  (8)  Chaucer, 
The  Squire }s  Tale,  11.  I32f.2;  (9)  Spenser,  Faerie  Queene,  Bk.  Ill,  canto 
n,  stanza  21,  Globe  ed.,  p.  165  ;  (10)  Bede,  De  septem  mundi  miraculis,  ed. 
J.  A.  Giles,  London,  1843,  IV,  p.  10;  (n)  Alexander  Neckam,  De  naturis 
rerum,  Bk.  II,  chap.  CLXXIV,  ed.  T.  Wright,  London,  1863,  pp.  310  f. 
(the  same  paraphrased  in  verse,  with  insignificant  changes,  in  Neckam's 
De  laudibus  dimnae  sapientiae,  Distich  V,  11.  289  f.,  ed.  Wright,  p.  447)  ; 
(12)  Vincent  of  Beauvais,  Speculum  Historiale,  Bk.  VI,  chap.  LXI,  Venice, 
1494,  p.  62»;  (13)  Fleur  des  histoires,  MS.  Bib.  du  Roi  7635,  quoted  by 
M.  G.  Brunet,  Le  Violier  des  Histoires  romaines,  Paris,  1858,  p.  130,  note; 
(14)  Jacobus  de  Voragine,  Legenda  Aurea,  chap.  157,  ed.  Graesse,  Dres- 
den, 1846,  p.  718  ;  (15)*  Mirabilia  urbis  Romae  (see  Preller,  Regionen 
der  Stadt  Rom,  Jena,  1846,  p.  243)  ;  (16)  MS.  Wessobrunn  53,  quoted  by 
Massmann,  I.e.,  p.  426;  (17)  Cosmas,  see  Mai,  Spicilegium  Romanum, 
Rome,  1839,  H»  P-  221  5  (J8)  Gesta  Romanorum,  ed.  Oesterley,  chap.  186, 
pp.  590  f.  (not  in  the  Anglo-Latin  version)  ;  (19)  Andrew  of  Ratisbon,  see 
Massmann,  I.e.,  p.  427  ;  (20)  Libra  imperiale,  III,  8,  quoted  from  a  fifteenth- 
century  manuscript  by  Comparetti,  I.e.,  p.  300,  note.3 

The  first  four  of  these  appear  to  have  had  their  origin  in  The  Seven 
Sages  of  Rome,  —  probably  in  A*,  surely  not  in  H.  The  version  of 

1  See  in  particular  for  Virgilius  II,  Comparetti,  pp.  299  f.,  303  f.,  and  Mass- 
mann, pp.  421  f. 

2  It  must  of  course  remain  an  open  question  whether  or  not  Chaucer's  mirror 
owes  anything  to  the  Salvatio  Romae  ;  the  chances  are,  I  think,  that  there  is  no 
connection  between  the  two.    The  same  is  true  of  Merlin's  mirror  in  the  Faerie 
Queene  (9). 

3  For  still  other  parallels  see  Comparetti,  p.  299;  Massmann,  pp.  424  f.;  and 
C.  G.  Leland,  Unpublished  Legends  of  Virgil,  New  York,  1900,  pp.  49  f.    For  very 
distant  analogues  sometimes  cited  as  variants,  see  Gesta  Romanoriim,  ed.  Herrtage, 
chap.  I,  pp.  I  f.  (not  in  the  Latin  version) ;  and  John  Lane,  Continuation  of  Chaucer's 
Squire's  Tale,  ed.  F.  J.  Furnivall,  Chaucer  Society  Publications,  1888,  p.  193. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  xcvii 

Gower  (i)  may  have  been  based  on  D,  with  which  it  agrees  in  the 
omission  of  Virgilius  I.  According  to  Gower,  Hannibal  was  among 
those  who  were  besieging  Rome  and  who  had  suffered  in  consequence 
of  the  magical  power  of  the  mirror.  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  tell  of  a  mirror  with 
virtues  similar  to  those  accredited  to  the  mirror  in  The  Seven  Sages, 
but  none  of  them  tells  of  the  efforts  to  destroy  the  mirror,  some  of 
them  indeed  (Chaucer  among  them)  merely  describing  the  mirror. 
The  remaining  variants  relate  the  story  of  the  Salvatio  Romae,  in  the 
main,  as  according  to  H. 

10.  Avis.1  —  In  all  of  the  regular  versions  of  the  Book  of  Sindibad 
and  in  all  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  except  the  Welsh  ver- 
sion 2  •  not  in  the  Dolopathos. 

In  the  Book  of  Sindibad  the  bird  is  a  parrot ;  the  wife  is  at.  first 
ignorant  as  to  the  means  whereby  her  husband  learns  of  her  unfaith- 
fulness, but  suspects  her  maid  ;  only  in  the  Mischle  Sindbad  is  mention 
made  of  going  on  the  house  top ;  the  instruments  used  to  deceive  the 
bird  are  a  hand  mill  (all  versions),  a  mirror  (all  versions),  a  taper 
(Sindibad-nameh  and  Sindbati),  a  sponge  (Syntipas\  a  bellows  (Sindi- 
bad-nameh),  and  a  grindstone  (Sindibad-nameh).  With  the  Hebrew 
version  the  husband  drives  the  wife  away  from  home  as  soon  as  he 
learns  of  her  falseness ;  the  deception  of  the  parrot  (which  is  allowed 
to  accompany  the  wife)  takes  place  later,  at  the  wife's  new  lodgings. 
Only  in  the  Seven  Vezirs  does  the  husband  ever  learn  of  the  deception 
practiced  on  the  parrot. 

In  the  Western  form  of  avis  the  variations  are  even  more  numerous 
than  in  the  Eastern  forms.  With  As  the  burgess  is  named  Balan  (later 
Annabill}.  With  F  the  wife's  paramour  is  a  priest;  with  D*  and  K,  a 
knight,  called  Gerard  le  filz  Thierry.  With  D*,  K,  and  D  it  is  a  man- 
servant (or  a  boy)  who  assists  the  wife  in  befooling  the  bird.  Among 
the  means  employed  to  this  end  are  the  dropping  of  small  sandstones 
(K,  D*,  H,  As),  flashing  a  candle  (D*,  Ar),  and  breaking  great  blown 

1  See  Benfey,  Pantschatantra,  I,  pp.  271  f . ;  Clouston,  Chaucer  Society  Publica- 
tions, 1887,  2d  ser.,  No.  22,  "  Originals  and  Analogues,"  Pt.  V,  No.  20,  pp.  437  f. ; 
Clouston,  Popular  Tales  and  Fictions,  II,  pp.  196  f. ;  Clouston,  Book  of  Sindibad, 
pp.  222  f. ;  Keller,  Sept  Sages,  pp.  cxxxiv  f. ;  Keller,  Dyocletianus  Leben,  p.  45  ; 
Crane,  Italian  Popular  Tales,  pp.  167  f . ;  Jacobs,  Fables  of  Bidpai,  pp.  252  f. 

2  For  the  story  which  the  Welsh  version  substitutes  for  avis,  see  the  note  on 
1.  1689. 


xcviii  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

bladders  (D) .  With  D*  and  K  the  husband  puts  the  wife  to  death ;  with 
B  he  gives  her  a  beating  and  sends  her  to  her  paramour;  with  F  the 
wife  and  her  paramour  put  the  husband  to  death.  But  the  most  radical 
variations  are  two  additions  made  by  As1,  devices  employed  to  protect 
the  paramour  from  the  husband,  who  has  in  each  instance  returned 
home  sooner  than  expected.  These  are  abridged  and  slightly  altered 
versions  of  two  well-known  stories,  usually  told  separately.  According 
to  the  first  of  these  the  paramour  saves  himself  by  rushing  past  the 
husband  as  he  enters,  brandishing  as  he  goes  a  sword,  the  wife  explain- 
ing that  he  had  been  chased  into  the  house  by  three  knights  who  sought 
to  take  his  life.  In  the  second  instance  the  paramour  is  saved  through 
the  wiliness  of  the  wife  and  her  mother  in  holding  up  a  sheet  between  the 
husband  and  the  paramour  long  enough  to  enable  the  latter  to  escape.2 
Variants  and  analogues  of  avis  occur  as  follows : 

(i)  John  of  Capua,  Directorium  vitae  humanae,  ed.  Derenbourg, 
pp.  89  f.  (the  same  with  slight  variations  in  North,  Fables  of  Bidpai,  ed. 
Jacobs,  pp.  185  f.,  and  Anvar-i Suhaili,  ed.  Eastwick,  pp.  241  f.);  (2)  Tutl- 
ndmeh,  ed.  C.  J.  L.  Iken,  Stuttgart,  1822,  pp.  10  f.;  ed.  G.  Small,  London, 
1875,  PP-  I4f-35  (3)  The  Forty  Vezirs,  ed.  Gibb,  London,  1886,  pp.  33  f. ; 
ed.  Behrnauer,  Leipzig,  1851,  pp.  35  f.;  (4)  The  Thousand  and  One  Nights, 
ed.  E.  W.  Lane,  London,  1883,  I,  pp.  79  f. ;  ed.  G.  Weil,  Stuttgart,  1871, 

1  These  are  reproduced  in  the  note  to  1.  2440. 

2  The  first  of  these  tales  appears  in  the  Book  of  Sindibdd  (all  versions  :  see  Com- 
paretti,  Book  of  Sindibdd,  p.  25  ;  Cassel,  Mischle  Sindbad,  pp.  283  f. ;  Clouston, 
Book  of  Sindibdd,  pp.  35  f.,  148  f.) ;  but,  as  Varnhagen  has  pointed  out  (EngL  Stud., 
XXV,  p.  322),  the  immediate  source  used  by  As  was  probably  Petrus  Alphonsus, 
Disciplina  Clericalis  (or  its  French  derivate),  where  both  stories  appear  side  by  side. 
See,  for  the  first  of  the  stories,  Clouston,  Book  of  Sindibdd,  pp.  228  f. ;  Schmidt, 
Disciplina  Clericalis,  pp.  49  f.,  127  f.;  Roesle,  Le  Castoiement  d'un  Ptre  a  son  Fils, 
pp.  17  f. ;  Caxton's  Fables  of  Aesop,  ed.  Jacobs,  London,  1889,  II,  pp.  279  f. ;  von 
der  Hagen,  Gesammtabenteuer,  II,  pp.  xxxii  f. ;  Boccaccio,  Decameron,  Day  VII, 
novel  6;  Schmidt,  Qukasaptati,  pp.  104  f.    For  the  second  story  see  Schmidt,  Dis- 
ciplina, pp.  49,  126;  Roesle,  I.e.,  p.   16;  Oesterley,   Gesta  Romanorum,  pp.473, 
732 ;  An  Alphabet  of  Tales,  No.  DXXXVI,  ed.  M.  M.  Banks,  II,  p.  360  (E.  E.  T.  S., 
CXXVII). 

3  Somewhat  analogous  also  to  avis  is  the  framework  of  the  Tuti-ndmeh  as. a 
whole,  according  to  which  a  parrot  saves  his  mistress  from  meeting  with  a  para- 
mour during  her  husband's  absence  by  entertaining  her  with  stories  until  the 
husband's  return.    See  Crane,  Italian  Popular  Tales,  pp.  168  f.,  for  some  Italian 
stories  with  a  framework  derived  from  the  Tuti-ndmeh. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  xcix 


I,  pp.  37  f.;  (5)  Firenzuola,  Discorsi  de  git  animali,  Venice,  1552,  pp. 
(the  same  in  French,  P.  de  la  Rivey,  Deux  Livres  de  Filosofie  fabuleuse, 
Lyon,  1579,  p.  143);  (6)  G.  C.  D[e]  T[ours],  Les  Facetievses  iovrnees, 
Day  VII,  No.  8,  Paris,  1583,  folios  236  f.  ;  (7)  Jataka,  No.  198,  The  Jataka, 
tr.  Rouse,  Cambridge,  1895,  II,  pp.  92  f.  (the  same  abridged  and  otherwise 
slightly  altered  in  Jataka,  No.  145,  The  Jataka,.  tr.  Chalmers,  Cambridge, 
1895,  I,  pp.  309  f.);  (8)  John  of  Capua,  Directorium,  ed.  Derenbourg, 
pp.  130  f.  ;  (9)  The  Book  of  the  Knight  de  la  Tour  Landry,  E.  E.  T.  S., 
1868,  XXXIII,  p.  22.1 

Of  the  foregoing,  i,  3,  4,  5,  6  are  very  near  to  the  Oriental  version 
of  avis.  5  and  6  appear  to  have  been  derived  from  i.  2,  7,  8,  and  9 
are  distant  analogues.  In  2  the  bird  refrains  from  telling  of  the  wife's 
misconduct  because  it  would  bring  about  the  separation  of  husband  and 
wife  ;  the  husband  learns  the  truth  from  a  stranger.  The  wife,  however, 
suspects  the  parrot  of  having  betrayed  her,  and  she  accordingly  pulls 
out  all  his  feathers,  then  throws  him  hard  against  a  wall,  and  leaves 
him  for  dead.  The  parrot  recovers,  and  ultimately  succeeds  in  recon- 
ciling husband  and  wife.  7,  one  of  the  Buddhist  birth-stories,  is  a  tale 
of  two  parrots  set  by  a  Brahmin  to  observe  the  conduct  of  his  wife 
during  his  absence.  The  parrots  observe  the  wife's  misdoings,  and  one 
of  them  calls  her  to  account  ;  she  wrings  his  neck  forthwith.  The  other 
parrot  is  silent  until  the  return  of  the  Brahmin  ;  then  he  tells  him  all  ; 
after  which  he  flies  away  to  the  woods.  8  tells  of  two  birds  that  had 
been  taught  to  speak  a  strange  language.  Certain  foreigners  who  are 
visiting  the  master  of  the  house  tell  him  that  the  birds  say  that  his  wife 
has  committed  adultery  with  the  gate  keeper.  The  wife,  charged  with 
the  crime,  asserts  that  the  birds  know  only  the  words  which  the  for- 
eigners have  heard,  and  that  they  have  been  taught  these  by  a  slave 
whose  advances  she  had  repelled.  The  husband  questions  the  birds, 
and  is  satisfied  that  the  wife's  story  is  true.  Birds  and  slave  are  put 
to  death.  9  tells  of  a  magpie  that  informs  its  master  of  his  wife's 
misconduct  in  eating  an  eel  which  the  master  had  been  saving  for  some 
friends  who  were  to  visit  him.  The  wife  wreaks  vengeance  on  the  bird 
by  plucking  all  the  feathers  from  its  head. 

~-  J  Chaucer's  Manciple's  Tale  is  also  sometimes  cited  as  a  variant  of  avis,  but 
the  two  are  very  distantly  related  if  at  all.  There  is,  however,  an  obvious  refer- 
ence to  avis  in  the  prologue  of  The  Wife  of  Bath's  Tale,  11.  231  f.  ;  see  Skeat's 
note  on  Cant.  Tales,  D,  1.  232,  and  his  article  in  the  Academy  for  April  5,  1890, 
p.  239. 


C  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

1 1 .  Sapientes.  —  Only  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome. 

The  chief  variations  are  that  of  D  in  suppressing  the  clerks'  search 
for  Merlin,  and  that  of  the  Welsh  version  in  repeating  that  the  king 
declined  to  follow  the  counsel  of  the  youth,  and  hence  was  ultimately 
slain  by  the  clerks.  And  there  are  a  number  of  lesser  variations.  D*  and 
K  depart  from  the  usual  order  in  reserving  the  account  of  the  custom 
instituted  by  the  clerks  until  just  after  the  king's  instructions  to  them 
to  find  a  cure  for  his  blindness.  With  the  same  versions  the  king's 
horse  always  balks  at  the  gates  of  the  city  when  the  king  wishes  to  ride 
thereout.  With  H  the  king  is  blind  only  when  outside  his  palace.  The 
time  allowed  the  clerks  wherein  to  find  a  cure  for  the  king's  malady  is, 
with  Ar,  E,  and  B,  seven  days ;  with  L,  eight  days ;  with  H,  ten  days ; 
with  F,  twelve  days ;  and  with  K  and  D*,  fifteen  days.  Neither  L  nor 
H  mentions  the  old  man  who  tells  the  clerks  about  Merlin.  D*  seems 
to  confuse  the  old  man  with  the  man  who  comes  to  Merlin  to  have  his 
dream  interpreted.  Both  K  and  D*  have  Merlin  explain  to  the  clerks 
while  on  the  way  to  the  city  the  cause  of  the  king's  blindness.  With  L 
Herod  shows  Merlin  much  honor  in  recognition  of  his  services,  and 
retains  him  as  his  counselor. 

Sapientes  was  probably  invented  by  the  redactor  of  the  parent  version 
of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome.  There  is,  to  be  sure,  a  very  distant 
analogue  in  the  Kalila  and  Dimna,  —  the  story  of  King  Beladh  (see 
Knatchbull,  chap.  14,  pp.  314  f.)1 ;  but  I  do  not  believe  that  there  is 
any  connection  between  the  two  stories.  And  there  is  one  interesting 
variant,  a  story  told  by  J.  Vogl,  Die  altesten  Volksmarchen  der  Russen, 
pp.  45  f.  This  story  is  based  on  H,  but  differs  from  it  in  several  details. 
The  setting  of  the  story  is  Russian,  the  king  and  queen  being  czar  and 
czarina.  The  stranger's  dream  is  to  the  effect  that  he  beheld  in  his 
garden  a  tree  under  which  were  innumerable  reptiles,  and  that  shortly 
thereafter  his  garden  was  flooded.  The  sages,  to  whom  he  first  relates 

1  This  story  is  briefly  as  follows :  King  Beladh,  having  had  during  one  night 
eight  visions,  calls  on  certain  Brahmins  to  interpret  these  visions.  They  ask 
for  seven  days'  grace  in  which  to  consider  the  matter.  At  the  end  of  the  seven 
days  they  tell  the  king  that  his  visions  signify  that  it  behooves  him  to  put  to 
death  a  number  of  his  chief  advisers  and  dearest  kinspeople.  The  king,  much 
displeased,  consults,  by  the  counsel  of  his  wife,  a  sage  by  the  name  of  Kibarioun, 
who  interprets  the  visions  quite  differently  and  entirely  to  the  king's  satisfaction. 
—  The  story  is  silent,  it  will  be  observed,  as  to  the  king's  blindness,  as  to  the 
seven  springs  under  his  bed,  and  as  to  the  slaying  of  his  evil  counselors. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  ci 

his  dream,  tell  him  he  must  have  drunk  too  freely  the  night  before. 
The  dream  is  then  told  to  a  boy  (=  Merlin),  who  interprets  it  correctly. 
The  cause  of  the  king's  malady  is  found  to  be  the  presence  of^seyeju 
reptiles  under  his  bed ;  these  reptiles  vanish  as  soon  as  the  clerks  are 
beheaded,  and  simultaneously  with  this  the  czar  regains  his  sight. 

12.  Vidua.1 —  Vidua,  though  much  older  than  any  of  the  extant 
versions  of  the  Book  of  Sindibad,  first  found  a  place  in  our  collection  in 
the  Occident,  and  then  only  in  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome.  The  story 
as  told  in  the  various  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  is  remarkably  con- 
stant. As  usual,  H  is  somewhat  less  constant  than  the  rest ;  it  intensi- 
fies the  story  by  adding  to  the  mutilations  normally  recorded,  first,  the 
cutting  off  of  the  husband's  ears,  and  then  a  still  greater  indignity,  for 
which  see  the  note  to  1.  3018  ;  and  it  shows  a  similar  fondness  for  the 
blood-curdling  in  having  the  knight,  by  way  of  emphatic  conclusion  to 
,the  story,  strike  off  the  head  of  the  widow  with  his  sword.  The  Welsh 
version  also  presents  some  noteworthy  variations ;  according  to  this 
version  the  husband  was  the  "  sheriff  of  Lesodonia"  ;  he  is  buried  in  a 
church  (hence  there  is  no  mention  of  the  lodge  over  his  grave) ;  the 
mother  of  the  widow  is  the  chief  of  those  who  implore  the  widow  to 
leave  the  tomb  of  her  husband ;  the  husband's  hair  is  entirely  plucked 
from  his  head  in  order  that  he  may  be  bald  like  the  robber  (see  variants 
6,  1 8,  and  58  below). 

Vidua  has  had  a  tremendous  vogue.  Professor  Harry  Thurston 
Peck  asserts  that  "  no  anecdote  of  the  kind  has  ever  had  so  great  a 
vogue  "2 ;  and  Joseph  Jacobs  goes  even  farther  in  asserting  in  the  intro- 
duction to  his  edition  of  Caxton's  Aesop  (I,  p.  13)  that  vidua  is  "per- 
haps the  most  popular  of  all  stories."  3 

1  See  for  literature  E.  Grisebach,  Die  Wandertmg  der  Novelle  von  der  tretdosen 
Wittwe  durch  die  Weltlitteratur,  2d  ed.,  Berlin,  1889;  M.  Dacier,  "  Examen  de 
1'histoire  de  la  matrone  d'Ephese,"  Histoires  et  Memoires  de  FAcademie  Royale 
des  Inscriptions,  Paris,  1780,  XLI,pp.  523  f. ;  Keller,  Sept  Sages,  pp.  clix  f. ;  Keller, 
Dyocletianus  Leben,  pp.  49  f. ;  A.  Cesari,  Come  per-uenne  e  rimase  in  Italia  la 
Matrona  d'Efeso,  Bologna,  1890;  Kohler,  Kleinere  Schriften,  ed.  Bolte,  II, 
pp.  583  f . ;  Clouston,  Popular  Tales  and  Fictions,  I,  pp.  29  f. ;  Jacobs,  The  Fables 
of  Aesop,  I,  pp.  245  f.  2  Trimalchio's  Dinner,  New  York,  1898,  p.  24. 

8  Its  early  popularity  is  attested  not  only  by  the  many  early  versions  of  it,  but 
also  by  its  reproduction  in  bas-relief  in  Nero's  palace ;  see  D.  Bardon,  Coti- 
tumes  des  anciens  pe^^ples,  Paris,  1772,  Pt.  8,  plate  12,  for  a  facsimile  of  this  bas- 
relief,  now  lost.  Jacobs  believes  that  vidua  is  also  possibly  reproduced  in  the 
Bayeux  Tapestry  (Fables  of  Aesop,  I,  p.  182,  note). 


cii  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

Among  the  derivates  and  analogues  of  the  story  are  the  following : 

(i)  Petronius  Arbiter,  Satyricon,  chap,  xm  (the  same  in  John  of  Salisbury, 
Polycraticus,  Bk.  VIII,  chap,  n  [Migne,  Patrologiae,  Paris,  1855,  CXCIX, 
cols.  753  f .],  where  it  is  asserted,  on  the  authority  of  Flavianus,  that  the  events 
of  the  story  actually  happened)  *;  (2)  Phaedrus,  jEsop,  Appendix  XV  (per- 
haps by  N.  Perottus),  ed.  L.  Hervieux,  Paris,  1896,  p.  72;  (3)  Romulus, 
jEsop,  III,  9,  ed.  L.  Hervieux,  Les  Fabulistes  latins,  2d  ed.,  Paris,  1894, 
II,  p.  497 2;  (4)  Walter  of  England,  ^Esop,  No.  48,  ed.  Hervieux,  II, 
pp.  340  f.3;  (5)  an  anonymous  Latin  poem  first  edited  by  T.  Wright,  A 
Selection  of  Latin  Stories,  Percy  Society,  London,  1842,  VIII,  p.  156 
(Hervieux,  II,  p.  738)  ;  (6)  an  anonymous  Latin  prose  version  preserved  in  a 
Tours  manuscript  (No.  205,  folio  173),  and  reported  by  A.  L.  de  La  Marche, 
Anecdotes  historiques  d'Etienne  de  Boiirbon,  Paris,  1877,  p.  396,  note  ;  (7) 
Barachijah  ha-Nakdan,  Mischle  Schualim  (see  Zunz,  Hebraeische  Biblio- 
graphie,  XIII,  pp.  77  f.) ;  the  same  in  Latin,  M.  Hanel,  Parabolae  Vulpium, 
Prague,  1661,  p.  293  (Grisebach,  p.  51);  (8)  Marie  de  France,  Fables, 
No.  xxv,  ed.  Warnke,  Halle,  1898,  pp.  85  f. ;  (9)  an  Old  French  fabliau, 
ed.  Montaiglon  and  Raynaud,  Recueil  general  des  Fabliaux,  Paris,  1878, 
IH,  pp.  118  f. ;  (10)  another  Old  French  fabliau,  Dacier,  Hist,  et  Mem,  de 
I'Acad.,  Paris,  1780,  pp.  535  f. ;  (i  i)  an  Old  French  "  Ysopet,"  ed.  Robert, 
Fables  inedites,  Paris,  1825,  pp.  431  f. ;  (12)  Le  Livre  de  Matheolus,  Bk.  II, 
No.  3,  ed.  J.  Lefevre,  Brussels,  1846,  pp.  73  f. ;  (13)  Jacques  de  Vitry, 
Exempla,  No.  ccxxxn,  ed.  T.  F.  Crane,  London,  1890,  pp.  96  f. ;  (14) 
E.  Deschamps,  Potsies  Morales,  ed.  G.  A.  Crapelet,  Paris,  1832,  pp.  230  f. ; 

(15)  U.  Boner,  Edelstein,  fable  57,  ed.  F.  Pfeiffer,  Leipzig,  1844,  pp.  96  f. ; 

(16)  Gerhard  von  Minden,  Die  Fabeln,  etc.,  No.  51,  ed.  A.  Leitzmann, 
Halle,  1898,  pp.  6 1  f. ;  (17)  a  fable  erroneously  attributed  to  Gerhard  von 
Minden,  ed.  W.  Seelmann,  Gerhard  von  Minden:  Fabeln,  Bremen,  1878, 
No.  27,  pp.  37  f.;  (18)  H.  Steinhowel,  Fabulae  Esopi,  ed.  H.  Oesterley, 
Tiibingen,  1873,  P-  J52  (the  same  in  modern  German,  L.  Aurbacher,  Ein 
Volksbiichlein,  Munich,  1835,  I»  PP'  181  f.);  (19)  The  Isopo  Laurenziano, 

1  There  are  also  sundry  more  or  less  faithful  translations  of  Petronius,  among 
them  that  of  W.  Heinse,  B  egebenheiten  des  Enkolp,  Rome,   1773,  H»  PP-  II2  f-> 
and  that  of  Thomas  Percy,  No.  i  of  his  volume  The  Matrons,  London,  1762. 

2  Hervieux  prints  five  other  Latin  versions  derived  from  or  nearly  related  to 
this  version,  as  follows  :  Les  Fabulistes  latins,  II,  pp.  217  f.,  258  f.,  391,  439,  534  f., 
585  f.    It  was  this  version  also  that  furnished  the  original  of  Caxton's  translation 
(ed.  Jacobs,  II,  pp.  79  f.). 

8  Formerly  designated  as  Anonymus  Neveleti,  after  an  early  editor,  I.  I.  Neve- 
letus.  From  Walter  of  England  was  derived  the  prose  version  printed  by  Her- 
vieux,  II,  p.  391. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  ciii 

No.  31,  ed.  M.  P.  Brush,  Columbus,  Ohio,  1899,  pp.  146  f.1 ;  (20)  A.  Zuccho, 
Esopo,  No. 49  (two  sonnets),  Verona,  1479  ;  (21)  F.del  Tuppo,  Esopo,  No.  50, 
Naples,  1485  (also  in  L1  Esopo  di  F.  del  Tuppo,  ed.  C.  de  Lollis,  Firenze, 
1866,  pp.  63  f.)  2  ;  (22)  Le  Cento  Novelle  Antiche,  ed.  L.  Cappelleti,  No.  51, 
Firenze,  1884,  pp.  94  f. ;  (23)  G.  Sercambi,  Novelle,  No.  16,  Bologna,  1871, 
pp.  138  f. ;  (24)  A.  Campeggi,  Novelle  amorosi,  Venice,  1641,  p.  207  ;  (25) 
E.  Manfredi,  Matrona  diEfeso,  a  novella,  in  Rime,  Bologna,  1 760,  pp.  1 66  f. ; 
(26)  F.  S.  Zambrini,  Libra  di  Novelle  Antiche,  No.  37,  Bologna,  1868, 
pp.  88  f. ;  (27)  N.  Carterornaco  (i.e.,  Forteguerri),  Ricciardetto,  canto  xm, 
stanzas  89  f.,  Paris,  1738,  pp.  357  f.  ;  (28)*  D.  Somigli,  aversion  insestines, 
Rime,  1782;  (29)  C.  G.  Scotti,  Giornate  del  Brembo,  Pt.  I,  novel  2,  Cre- 
mona, 1 805,  pp.  54  f. ;  (30)  Les  Faveurs  et  les  Disgraces  de  V Amour,  ou  les 
Amans  heureux,  avec  deux  Contes  nouveaux  en  Vers,  Cologne,  1695,  Pt.  II, 
pp.  I2f. ;  (31)  de  Bran  tome  (i.e.,  P.  de  Bourdeilles),  Vies  des  Dames 
Galantes,  discourse  7,  Paris,  1890,  pp.  418  f. ;  (32)  Marguetel  de  St.  Denis, 
QLuvres  de  M.  de  Saint-Evremond,  Paris,  1753,  III,  pp.  48  f. ;  (33)*  P. 
Brinon,  L?  Ephesienne,  1614  (see  H.  Lucas,  Histoire  du  Theatre  franqais, 
Brussels,  1863,  III,  p.  274)  ;  (34)  *  La  Veufve  de  Petrone,  anonymous,  a 
drama,  1668  (Grisebach,  p.  85)  ;  (35)  *  de  Fatouville,  Grapignan  ou  Arle- 
quin  procureur,  a  drama  in  three  acts,  1684  (Grisebach,  p.  85)  ;  (36)  *  L. 
Fuzelier,  a  comic  opera,  1714  (Grisebach,  p.  85)  ;  (37)  Houdart  de  La 
Motte,  La  Matrone  d'Ephese,  a  comedy,  Les  CEuvres  de  Theatre,  Paris, 
1730,  II,  pp.  331  f. ;  (38)  *  Le  Gay,  La  Matrone  d'Ephese,  a  comedy  in 
one  act,  1788  (Grisebach,  p.  85)  ;  (39)  J.  B.  Radet,  La  Matrone  d'Ephese, 
a  comedy  in  one  act,  Theatre  de  Radet,  Paris,  1795,  II,  pp.  I  f. ;  (40)  J.  de 
La  Fontaine,  Contes  et  Nouvelles  en  Vers,  Paris,  1894,  I,  pp.  191  f.8;  (41) 
*  D.  W.  Triller  (Grisebach,  p.  118  ;  title  and  date  not  given)  ;  (42)  C.  F. 
Weisse,  Die  Matrone  von  Ephesus,  ein  Lustspiel  in  einem  Akte,  Theater 
der  Deutschen,  Berlin,  1767,  V,  pp.  447  f. ;  (43)  Lessing,  Die  Matrone  von 
Ephesus,  a  fragment,  Lessings  theatralischer  Nachlass,  ed.  C.  G.  Lessing, 
Berlin,  1784-1786,  pp.  133  f.  (the  same  slightly  enlarged  by  K.  L.  Rahbek, 
Mannheim,  1790)  ;  (44)  A.  Klingemann,  Die  IVittwe  von  Ephesus,  in  Neu- 
este  deutsche  Schaubiihne,  Augsburg,  1818,  II,  pp.  145  f.  (based  on  Lessing's 

1  For  several  other  Italian  versions,  derived,  like  this,  from  Marie  de  France, 
see  Brush,  pp.  43  f. 

2  For  several  other  Italian  versions,  closely  akin  to  the  versions  of  Zuccho  and 
del  Tuppo  and  with  them  going  back  to  Walter  of  England,  see  Brush,  pp.  38, 
79,  and  A.  d'Ancona,  Romania,  III,  pp.  175  f. 

8  In  connection  with  the  French  analogues  should  be  mentioned  the  unrealized 
plan  of  G.  Flaubert  to  make  use  of  vidua  ;  see  Grisebach,  p.  10,  who  quotes  Lettres 
de  G.  Flaubert  a  George  Sand,  Paris,  1884,  p.  Ivi. 


civ  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

play)  ;  (45)  *  F.  Schmidt,  a  version  in  his  Kleine  poetische  Schriften, 
Altona,  1766  (Grisebach,  pp.  ii8f.);  (46)  G.  C.  Griibel,  Sdmmtliche 
Werke,  ed.  G.  K.  Frommann,  Niirnberg,  1857,  III,  pp.  38  f. ;  (47)  an 
anonymous  German  poet,  Matrone  von  Ephesus,  reprinted  by  Grisebach, 
p.  1 1  ;  (48)  A.  von  Chamisso,  Ein  Lied  von  der  Weibertreue,  Gedichte,  ed. 
M.  Koch,  Stuttgart,  1893,  I,  pp.  205  f.  ;  (49)  G.  Myll,  Bnke  (or  Spectakle) 
of  Luf,  chap,  vi,  ed.  D.  Laing,  Bannatyne  Miscellany,  Edinburgh,  1836, 
II,  pp.  141  f. ;  (50)  George  Chapman,  The  Widdowes  Tears,  London,  1612  ; 
(5i)'W.  Charleton,  The  Ephesian  Matron,  London,  1659  (the  same  in 
Latin  prose,  by  B.  Harrison,  Matrona  Ephesia,  London,  1665)  ;  (52) 
Jeremy  Taylor,  Holy  Dying,  chap,  v,  §  8  ("Temple  Classics,"  London, 
1901,  pp.  331  f.)  ;  (53)  *  Charles  Johnson,  The  Ephesian  Matron^;  (54) 
W.  Popple,  The  Ephesian  Matron,  a  Tragi-Comedy  of  One  Act,  British 
Museum  MS.  Addl.  186142  ;  (55)  John  Ogilby,  The  Ephesian  Matron*; 
(56)  Isaac  Bickerstaffe,  The  Ephesian  Matron,  a  Comic  Serenata,  after 
the  Manner  of  the  Italian,  London,  1769;  (57)  Talmudic  Tosiphtaoth  to 
Kiddushin,  folio  8ob  (see  P.  I.  Hershon,  A  Talmudic  Miscellany,  London, 
1880,  p.  28)  ;  (58)  A.  Sulzbach,  Dichterkldnge  aus  Spaniens  besseren 
Tagen,  Frankfurt-am-Main,  1873,  PP-  7&  f.  (in  verse;  purporting  to  be  a 
translation  from  the  Scha'aschuim  of  J.  Sabara)  ;  (59)  a  story  current  in 
Russia,  recorded  by  P.  Lerch,  Orient  und  Occident,  II,  pp.  373  f. ;  (60)  a 
story  from  the  Chinese  Kin-kou-ki-kouan,  tr.  P.  J.  B.  Du  Halde,  Descrip- 
tion geographique,  historiqiie,  etc.,  La  Haye,  1736,  III,  pp.  402 f.  (the 
same  in  E.  Legrand's  La  Matrone  du  Pays  de  Soung,  Paris,  1884,  pp.  4  f. ; 
and,  in  an  English  translation,  in  T.  Percy's  The  Matrons,  London,  1762, 
pp.  26  f.);  (6i)G.  C.  Stent,  The  Jade  Chaplet,  London,  1874,  pp.  6  f . ; 
(62)  Oliver  Goldsmith,  The  Citizen  of  the  World,  letter  xvm  ("  Temple 
Classics,"  London,  1900,  I,  pp.  84  f.) ;  (63)  Voltaire,  Zadig,  chap,  n ; 
(64)  a  story  of  Rabbi  Meir  and  his  wife,  Beruriah,  in  certain  glosses  to  the 
Talmud,  summarized  by  Grisebach,  p.  27  (the  same  in  metrical  form,  A.  M. 
Tendlau,  Das  Buck  der  Sagen  und  Legenden  jiidischer  Vorzeit,  2d  ed., 
Stuttgart,  1845,  pp.  42  f.) ;  (65)  A.  de  Musset,  La  Coupe  et  les  Llvres, 
(Enures  Completes,  Paris,  1866,  I,  pp.  256  f. ;  (66)  E.  von  Billow,  Novel- 
lenbuch,  Leipzig,  1836,  pp.  21 7  f.;  (67)  *  Veriphantor  (i.e.,  Johann  Gor- 
gias),  Die  nach  Absterben  ihres  Mannes  scheinheilige  Wittwe,  Cologne, 

1  This  appears  to  have  been  a  farce  in  one  act.    It  is  not  entered  in  the  Cata- 
logue of  the  British  Museum  and  probably  was  never  published. 

2  Preceded  by  a  translation  of  the  version  of   Petronius.    The  play  proper 
begins  on  folio  I3a.    The  manuscript  contains  nothing  else. 

8  See  Gordon  Goodwin  in  the  Dictionary  of  National  Biography,  XLII,  p.  17, 
who  asserts  that  the  poem  was  never  published. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  cv 

1735  (Grisebach,  p.  117);  (68)  H.  W.  Kirchhof,  Wendunmuth,  No.  348, 
ed.  Oesterley,  pp.  388  f.  (the  same  version  by  J.  Ayrer,  Ayrers  Dramen, 
ed.  H.  A.  Keller,  Stuttgart,  1865,  Iv>  P-  2609;  and  in  A  Hundred  Mery 
Talys,  No.  c,  ed.  Oesterley,  London,  1866,  pp.  158!)  ;  (69)  *  Restif  de 
la  Bretonne,  Les  Contemporaines,  Leipzig,  1784,  XVII,  pp.  238 f.  (summa- 
rized by  Grisebach,  pp.  88  f.)  ;  (70)  J.  A.  Musaeus,  Volksmarchen  der 
Deutschen,  Altona,  1870,  pp.  269  f. ;  (71)  The  Forty  Vezirs,  ed.  Gibb, 
pp.  82  f.  (the  same  in  Le  Cabinet  des  Fees,  XVI,  pp.  63  f.)  ;  (72)  G.  Etherege, 
The  Matrons,  ed.  T.  Percy,  London,  1762,  pp.  91  f. ;  (73)  Imbert,  "La 
jeune  Veuve,"  Historiettes  ou  Nouvelles  en  Vers,  2d  ed..  Amsterdam,  1774^ 
pp.  5 if.  ;  (74)  C.  Brentano,  "Des  todten  Brautigams  Lied,"  Gesammelte 
Schriften,  Frankfurt-am- Main,  1852,  II,  pp.  370  f.;  (75)  *  Comedies  nou- 
velles,  Berlin,  1753,  p.  141,  a  fragment  (see  Keller,  Dyocletianus  Leben, 
p.  50)  ;  (76)  R.  H.  Barham,  "  The  Knight  and  the  Lady,"  The  Ingoldsby 
Legends,  3d  ser.,  London,  1882,  pp.  41 5  f. 

Of  the  foregoing  the  first  fifty-nine  are  surely  variants  of  vidua  ;  the 
next  five  versions  (60-64)  reproduce  with  variations  a  Chinese  story 
which  probably  found  its  origin  in  vidua  ;  the  rest  are  all  in  some  way 
analogous  to  vidua,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  they  have  any  real  con- 
nection with  it.1 

Very  few  of  the  variants  were  derived  from  The  Seven  Sages,  prob- 
ably not  more  than  seven  at  best :  23,  12,  27,  n,  14,  49,  and  59 ;  and 
we  can  be  by  no  means  certain  that  all  of  these  were  derived  from  it. 
Of  much  more  significance  for  the  history  of  the  story  have  been  Petro- 
nius  and  Phaedrus.  The  Phsedrus  version  has  given  rise  to  most  of  the 
fable  variants.  And  the  Petronius  version  has  been  even  more  popular, 
especially  with  those  who  have  dramatized  the  story ;  perhaps  one 
fourth  of  all  the  variants  cited  acknowledge  in  some  way  a  source  in 
Petronius. 

1  There  are  sundry  other  stories  that  have  been  cited  by  Grisebach  and  others 
as  variants  of  vidua,  but  which  prove  on  examination  to  be  either  copies  of  vari- 
ants listed  here  (as  in  the  case  of  the  fable  collections  in  particular)  or  very  distant 
analogues  having  no  real  connection  with  our  story.  In  the  latter  class  fall  the 
story  from  the  Da^akumdracarita  cited  by  Benfey  {Pantschatantra,  I,  pp.  436  f.) 
and  Grisebach  (pp.  67  f.)  and  the  closely  related  story  from  the  Pantschatantra 
(Bk.  IV,  No.  5,  ed.  Benfey,  II,  pp.  303  f. ;  see  Grisebach,  pp.  68  f.).  Here  also 
belongs  the  supposed  variant  in  the  Yvain  of  Chretien  de  Troies  (see  Foerster, 
Romanische  Bibliothek,  Halle,  1891,  V,  pp.  xiii  f.),  as  has  been  demonstrated  with 
much  finality  by  A.  C.  L.  Brown  in  his  essay  on  Twain  {Studies  and  Notes  in 
Philology  and  Literature,  Boston,  1903,  VIII,  pp.  I  f.). 


cvi  ORIGINALS   AND  ANALOGUES 

Variations  in  the  telling  of  the  story  are  numerous,  but  are  generally  of 
slight  consequence.  In  12  the  husband  had  been  slain  in  battle  ;  in  47 
he  had  died  at  an  oyster  feast ;  in  27  and  49  (as  normally  in  The  Seven 
Sages)  he  had  died  from  a  wound  in  the  hand.  Only  two  versions  —  23 
and  49  —  reproduce  the  feature  of  the  lodge  built  over  the  grave  for 
the  widow's  protection,  though  at  least  sixteen  versions  (5,  6,  8,  9,  10,  12, 
13,  15,  16,  17,  18,  23,  49,  57,  58,  59)  represent  the  husband  as  having 
been  buried  in  a  grave.  With  at  least  twenty-one  versions  (1,2,  3,  5,  13, 
^o,  2 1,  24,  25,  29,  32,  37,  39,  40, 41, 43, 44, 47,  49,  50,  52)  the  husband's 
body  has  been  placed  in  a  sepulcher  or  sarcophagus.  In  i,  2,  3,  24,  25, 
29*  32>  37,  39>  4°>  41,  43>  44>  4$,  5°;  52>  56  a  faithful  maid-servant 
remains  with  the  widow  in  the  sepulcher.  In  43  one  of  the  knight's 
retainers  is  introduced  as  a  foil  to  the  maid ;  he  marries  the  maid  at 
the  same  time  that  the  knight  marries  the  widow.  In  3,  5,  6,  8,  10, 
n,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  18,  20,  21,  23,  26,  27,  29,  31,  40,  41,  44,  47, 
48,  49,  50,  51,  57,  58,  59  only  one  robber  has  been  hanged ;  in  30  and 
32,  two  robbers;  in  56  (as  in  The  Seven  Sages),  three  robbers;  in  52, 
seven  robbers;  i,  2,  and  39  are  indefinite  as  to  the  number.  The 
knight  (or  sentinel)  set  to  watch  the  gallows  goes  to  the  wife  because 
of  thirst  in  2,  3,  5,  21,  23 ;  because  of  cold  in  48,  49,  51,  54;  because 
of  the  light  he  detects  in  the  sepulcher  in  10  and  41 ;  he  is  attracted 
by  the  wife's  lamentations  in  i,  12,  17,  18,  30,  33,  58,  59 ;  by  two  or 
more  of  these  causes  in  6,  n,  13,  14,  15,  17,  22,  29,  41.  In  i,  25,  29, 
40,  41,  50,  54,  56  the  knight  takes  food  to  the  widow  and  induces  her 
to  break  her  fast;  in  50  he  makes  the  maid  drunk  with  wine.  In  58 
he  takes  the  widow  by  the  hand  and  conducts  her  back  to  the  city,  but 
she  returns  the  next  night.  In  1 7  he  takes  her  to  his  own  home,  and 
feasts  her. 

In  1 7  and  2  2  the  body  of  the  thief  had  been  stolen  before  the  knight 
learned  of  the  widow.  In  8,  10,  and  19  the  knight  himself  had  stolen 
the  body  and  given  it  burial,  he  and  the  robber  being  kinsmen.  In  9 
and  39  the  stealing  of  the  robber's  body  and  the  subsequent  exhuming 
and  hanging  of  the  husband's  body  are  omitted ;  in  9  the  knight  goes 
to  the  widow  in  pursuance  of  a  boast  made  to  his  squire  that  he  could 
win  her  love ;  in  39  he  is  introduced  by  the  maid,  who  wishes  to  dis- 
suade her  mistress  from  her  resolution  to  remain  in  the  sepulcher.  The 
maid  also  encourages  the  knight  in  his  suit  in  39,  40,  and  54  ;  in  54  the 
maid  goes  so  far  as  to  fit  out  the  knight  in  the  clothes  of  the  husband. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  cvii 

Most  of  the  variants  are  silent  as  to  the  mutilating  of  the  husband's 
body ;  and  in  none  of  the  variants  is  the  mutilation  so  extensive  as  it  is 
in  H.  With  22,  27,  and  48  the  mutilation  consists  in  knocking  out  one 
tooth;  with  23,  in  knocking  out  the  fore  teeth;  with  30  and  31,  in  cut- 
ting off  one  ear ;  with  10,  in  making  two  wounds  in  the  husband's  fore- 
head similar  to  wounds  that  had  been  made  by  arrows  in  the  robber's 
forehead;  with  18  and  58,  in  pulling  the  hair  off  the  husband's  head; 
with  6,  in  pulling  off  the  hair,  cutting  off  one  leg,  and  knocking  out  an 
eye ;  with  5 1 ,  in  breaking  the  legs  and  arms  and  besmearing  the  face 
with  blood  and  dirt. 

In  n,  14,  18,  21,  37,  50,  58  the  knight  marries  the  widow;  in  12, 
19,  22,  49  (as  in  The  Seven  Sages),  although  he  has  promised  to  marry 
her,  he  refuses  to  do  so  after  he  has  witnessed  her  falseness  to  her  dead 
husband.  In  54  he  gives  her  a  diamond  ring  at  their  parting. 

60  is  the  Chinese  story  from  the  Kin-kou-ki-kouan,  which  runs  some- 
what as  follows  :  A  wife  had  promised  her  husband  not  to  marry  a  second 
time  until  after  the  mold  on  his  grave  had  become  dry;  shortly  after 
the  husband's  death  one  Chouang  finds  the  widow  fanning  the  husband's 
grave  in  order  to  dry  it  off  as  quickly  as  possible.  Chouang  relates  the 
incident  to  his  wife,  who  is  indignant  at  the  story  and  stoutly  contends 
that  if  her  husband  were  to  die  she  would  never  marry  again.  Chouang 
determines  to  test  his  wife.  Accordingly  he  feigns  to  have  died,  having 
first  employed  his  disciple,  Wang-Sun,  who  is  privy  to  the  whole  scheme, 
to  make  suit  for  his  wife's  love.  Wang-Sun  is  successful  in  his  suit,  and 
arrangements  are  made  for  their  marriage.  Just  before  the  appointed 
hour,  however,  Wang-Sun  feigns  illness,  and  sends  word  to  the  widow 
that  the  only  possible  cure  for  him  is  the  brain  of  a  man  recently  dead. 
She  has  begun  to  chop  open  the  coffin  into  which  Chouang  had  been 
put,  when  he  drops  his  feigning  and  the  whole  truth  is  revealed.  The 
wife  hangs  herself;  Chouang  burns  his  house  and  goes  to  another 
country. 

Ultimately  based  on  60  are  61,  62,  63,  64,  and  possibly  also  65,  66, 
and  67.  These  exhibit  the  following  variations  :  the  wife  who  furnishes 
the  initial  episode  had  agreed  not  to  marry  again  so  long  as  a  certain 
stream  flowed  past  her  husband's  grave,  but  is  seen,  soon  after  her  hus- 
band's death,  busily  engaged  in  digging  a  ditch  in  an  effort  to  change 
the  course  of  the  stream  (63);  the  thing  mentioned  by  the  husband's 
accomplice  as  the  sole  cure  of  his  feigned  illness  is  the  heart  of  one 


cviii  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

newly  deceased  (62,66),  or  the  nose  (63)  ;  Chouang,  after  the  death  of 
his  wife,  marries  the  widow  who  first  figures  in  the  story  (62). 

68  is  the  well-known  story  of  '  Wooden  John.'  69,  70,  71,  72,  73,  74, 
are  even  more  distant  analogues,  and,  as  I  have  said  above,  are  perhaps 
in  no  way  related  to  vidua,  though  most  of  them  have  been  variously 
cited  as  variants  of  it. 

13.  Roma.1  —  Not  in  the  Book  of  Sindibad  nor  in  the  Dolopathos. 

Roma  is  one  of  the  stories  which  were  rejected  by  L  and  S.  In  H  it 
was  fused  with  senescalcus,  the  seneschal,  who  had  been  banished  at  the 
end  of  that  story,  appearing  now  as  the  besieger  of  Rome.  In  D,  instead 
of  seven  kings  warring  against  Rome,  there  are  only  three.  D  calls  Janus 
Gynever ;  H  suppresses  the  name  altogether.  The  tower  is  called  Cres- 
sent  by  L,  K,  Ar,  E,  F.  With  L,  K,  D,  F  the  Saracens  think  Janus  is 
God  come  to  the  aid  of  the  Romans.  K,  D*,  H,  E,  D  are  silent  as  to 
the  crowning  of  Janus  as  king.  The  Welsh  version  fuses  with  senescalcus 
the  fable  of  the  shepherd  who  binds  his  dogs  and  delivers  them  up  to 
a  wolf.2 

Variants  or  analogues  of  Roma  are  to  be  found  in  (i)  Bede,  De 
Divisionibus  temporum,  ed.  Migne,  Bedae  Opera,  I,  p.  659  ;  (2)  Philip 
de  Thaun,  Li  Cumpoz,  11.  651  f.,  ed.  E.  Mall,  Strassburg,  1873,  PP-  23 
f. ;  (3)  the  Pantschatantra,  Bk.  I,  No.  5,  tr.  Benfey,  II,  pp.  48  f . ;  tr. 
Schmidt,  pp.  54  f. ;  and  (4)  W.  Radloff,  Proben  der  Volkslit.  d.  tilrk. 
Stamme  Sud-Siberiens,  IV,  p.  200. 3 

Of  these,  the  first  two  —  both  told  by  way  of  explaining  how  the 
month  of  January  came  by  its  name  —  are  clearly  variants  of  Roma, 
though  it  is  not  likely  that  either  was  the  source  of  it.  They  possess,  in 
common  with  Roma,  not  only  the  general  framework  of  the  story,  but 
even  the  details  of  the  naming  sword  and  the  mistaking  of  Janus  for 
God.  Neither,  however,  mentions  the  visor  or  the  mirror. 

The  third  is  also  a  variant  of  Roma,  though  it  bears  few  specific 
resemblances  to  it.  This  story  is  briefly  as  follows  :  A  weaver  who  had 
fallen  in  love  with  a  princess  enjoys  her  often,  pretending  to  be  the 
angel  Narajana.  The  king,  to  whom  the  daughter  imparts  her  secret,  is 

1  See  Gaston  Paris,  "  Le  Recit  Roma  dans  les  Sept  Sages"  Romania,  IV,  pp.  125  f. 

2  See  the  note  to  1.  3063  f. 

3  Really  the  conclusion  of  a  variant  of  gaza  (the  28th) ;  a  similar  incident  is 
appended  to  the  2yth  variant  of  gaza.     See  also  Morlini,  Novellae,  No.  LXIX, 
Lutetiae  Parisiorum,  1855,  pp.  125  f. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  cix 

delighted,  and  presumes  upon  the  supposed  relationship  to  treat  unjustly 
his  neighboring  kings.  The  latter  make  war  upon  him,  and  he,  finding 
himself  hard  put  to  it,  seeks  the  aid  of  the  supposed  Narajana.  For  a 
time  the  weaver  sends  no  answer  to  the  king,  but  when  the  supply  of 
food  has  been  exhausted  and  the  city  is  about  to  fall,  he  sends  word 
that  he  will  on  the  morrow  come  to  the  king's  rescue ;  he  directs  the 
king  to  lead  his  army  against  the  enemy,  and  promises  that  he  will  appear 
in  the  air  at  the  same  time  and  render  the  enemy  powerless.  At  the 
appointed  time  the  weaver  ascends  a  high  place  and  attempts  to  imper- 
sonate Narajana.  The  real  Narajana  now,  fearing  that  he  might  lose 
the  confidence  of  the  people  in  case  the  weaver  failed,  takes  the  form 
of  the  weaver,  and,  with  a  bow  and  a  pane  of  glass  among  other  things, 
so  frightens  the  king's  enemies  that  they  are  completely  routed.  The 
weaver  then  discloses  the  whole  story  to  the  king,  who,  besides  -giving 
him  his  daughter  in  honorable  marriage,  rewards  him  richly. 

The  Russian  analogue  (4)  is  very  distantly  related  to  Roma  if  at  all. 
According  to  this  story  a  young  thief  fits  himself  out  in  a  variegated 
coat,  over  which  he  draws  a  goat's  hide  covered  with  little  bells.  He 
then  sets  out,  mounted  upon  a  camel,  which  is  similarly  fitted  out  with 
goat's  hide  and  bells,  in  search  of  a  certain  prince.  When  the  robber  is 
yet  a  long  way  off,  the  prince  hears  the  noise  of  the  bells  and  sends  his 
wife  out  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  it.  As  the  robber  draws  nearer,  he 
proclaims  aloud  that  he  is  the  Evil  One  and  that  the  end  of  the  world 
is  at  hand ;  in  consequence  of  all  which  both  the  prince  and  his  wife 
lose  their  minds. 

Paris  believed  Roma  to  be  Oriental  in  origin,  and  to  have  been  ulti- 
mately derived  from  the  Sanskrit  story  (3)  summarized  above,  into  which 
elements  of  the  Saturn  and  Janus  myths  were  introduced  in  the  Occi- 
dent. The  mirror  feature  is  perhaps  to  be  traced  to  the  influence  of 
the  Virgilian  Salvatio  Romae. 

14.  Inclusa.1  —  In  the  Dolopathos  (metrical  version)  2  and  in  all  ver- 
sions of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  except  L  and  S. 

The  Dolopathos  version  differs  considerably  from  that  of  The  Seven 
Sages  proper,  According  to  the  Dolopathos  a  Roman,  having  been 

1  See  Clouston,  Popular  Tales  and  Fictions,  II,  pp.  212  f . ;  Clouston,  Book  of 
Sindibdd,  pp.  345  f. ;  Keller,  Sept  Sages,  pp.  ccxxvii  f. ;  Keller,  Dyocletianus  Leben, 
pp.  61  f. ;  and  Crane,  Italian  Popular  Tales,  pp.  167,  359. 

2  Where  it  is  combined  with  puteus. 


ex  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

much  annoyed  by  his  friends,  who  persistently  entreat  him  to  marry,  has 
an  image  of  a  beautiful  woman  made,  sets  it  up  on  a  pillar  before  his 
door,  and  asserts  that  he  will  never  marry  until  he  has  found  a  woman 
as  beautiful  as  the  image.  After  a  while  he  learns  from  some  pilgrims 
that  there  lives  in  Greece  a  woman  quite  as  beautiful  as  the  image,  and 
he  forthwith  sets  out  from  Rome  to  visit  her.  Arrived  at  the  home  of 
the  lady,  he  finds  her  husband  absent  from  their  castle,  but  the  lady  is 
reluctant  to  give  up  her  lord.  The  Roman  finally  wins  her  love,  how- 
ever, and  it  is  upon  her  suggestion  that  he  asks  the  privilege  of  build- 
ing a  house  near  the  tower  in  which  she  is  imprisoned.  The  Roman 
subsequently  entertains  the  husband  at  dinner,  presenting  the  latter's 
wife  as  his  own  wife  recently  come  from  Rome.  The  two  then  fly.  The 
husband,  as  soon  as  he  has  learned  of  the  deceit  practiced  on  him,  fol- 
lows after  the  couple,  but  does  not  overtake  them  until  they  have 
reached  Rome.  When  the  husband  comes  up  with  the  Roman,  the  latter 
tells  him  that  his  wife  has  died  on  the  way  to  Rome;  he  proposes, 
however,  to  make  amends,  in  part,  by  presenting  to  him  the  image  which 
had  stood  before  his  door,  which  he  asserts  is  the  body  of  his  wife,  who 
after  her  death  had  turned  to  stone.  The  husband  accepts  the  image 
and  returns  with  it  to  Greece. 

The  variations  exhibited  by  other  versions  are  slight.  The  country 
in  which  the  knight  finds  the  lady  is,  in  E,  F,  and  D,  Apulia  ;  in  Ar, 
Plessis.  D  is  silent  as  to  the  killing  of  the  mason.  D*  omits  the  inci- 
dent of  the  ring.  According  to  H  the  lord  of  the  castle  first  discovers 
the  ring  on  the  hand  of  the  knight  when  the  two  are  hunting  together. 
D  says  nothing  of  the  marriage  of  the  knight  and  the  lady.  It  elab- 
orates, however,  in  reporting  that  the  lord  of  the  castle,  after  learning 
of  the  falseness  of  his  wife,  throws  himself  from  the  tower  and  breaks 
his  neck. 

Variants  or  analogues  of  indusa  are  found  as  follows  : 

(i)  Plautus,  Miles  Gloriosus  (in  particular  Act  II,  sc.  i  f.)1;  (2)  Le- 
grand  d'Aussy,  Fabliaux  ou  Contes,  $d  ed.,  Ill,  pp.  I56f.  ;  (3)  Bojardo, 
Orlando  Innamorato,  I,  canto  xxn  2  (&ee  also  Berni,  Orlando  Innamo- 
rato,  tr.  W.  S.  Rose,  Edinburgh,  1823,  pp.  125  f.);  (4)  The  Thousand  and 
One  Nights,  ed.  Habicht,  XI,  pp.  140  f.  (also  in  J.  Payne's  Tales  from 


1  According  to  its  prologue,  based  on  a  Greek  play,  ' 

2  See  Colbert   Searles,  "  The   Leodilla  Episode  in   Bojardo's   Orlando  Inna- 
morato"  Mod.  Lang.  Notes,  1902,  XVII,  pp.  165  f. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  Cxi 

the  Arabic  of  the  Breslau  and  Calcutta  Editions,  etc.,  London,  1884,  I, 
pp.  261  f.);  (5)  Clouston,  A  Group  of  Eastern  Romances  and  Stories, 
Glasgow,  1889,  pp.  358  f. ;  (6)  Sercambi,  Novelle,  No.  13,  Bologna,  1871, 
pp.  97  f. ;  (7)  Pitrd,  Fiabe,  Novelle  e  Racconti,  No.  176,  III,  pp.  308  f. ; 
(8)  Sansovino,  Cento  Novelle  Scelte,  Day  X,  novel  8,  Venice,  1561, 
pp.  383  f.  (the  same  in  French  in  G.  C.  D[e]  T[ours],  Les  Facetievses 
iovrnees,  Day  I,  novel  10,  Paris,  1583,  folios  34b  f. ;  the  same  also,  except 
for  the  change  of  all  names  save  Monopolis,  in  Masuccio,  Novellino, 
No.  xxxiv,  tr.  Waters,  London,  1895,  II,  pp.  167  f.);  (9)  Les  Faveurs  et 
les  Disgraces  de  V Amour,  ou  les  Amans  heureux,  pp.  259  f. ;  (10)  Gueul- 
lette,  Les  Mille  et  un  Quart-d }Heure :  Contes  Tar  tares,  chaps.  Cl-civ, 
Paris,  1753,  III,  pp.  134  f.;  (H)  A.  von  Platen,  Der  Thurm  mit  sieben 
Pforten,  a  comedy  in  one  act,  1825,  Platen's  Gesammelte  Werke,  I, 
pp.  6 if.;  (12)  Campbell,  Popular  Tales  of  the  West  Highlands,  I, 
pp.  281  f . ;  (13)  Lidzbarski,  Geschichten  u.  Lieder  aus  den  neu-aramaischen 
HSS.  d.  KbnigL  Bibliothek  zu  Berlin,  pp.  229  f. ;  (14)  J.  von  Hammer, 
New  Arabian  Nights  Entertainments,  tr.  Lamb,  London,  1826,  I,  pp.  133  f.; 
(15)  Le  Roman  de  Flamenca,  11.  1304  f.,1  ed.  P.  Meyer,  Paris,  I9OI.2 

Of  these  the  second  is  almost  surely  derived  from  The  Seven  Sages  — 
apparently  from  some  manuscript  of  L;  and  6,  n,  and  12  are  also 
derivates  probably.  Only  2  and  12  tell  of  the  knight's  dream  of  the 
lady.  With  i  the  lady  is  a  Roman  by  birth,  but  had  been  sold  to  an 
Ephesian  captain.  In  12  the  lady  sought  is  unmarried,  but  is  the 
daughter  of  the  bailie  of  London.  8  and  1 2  are  silent  as  to  the  secret 
(usually  underground)  passage.  In  1,3,  and  4  the  husband  is  persuaded 
that  his  wife  is  really  one  of  the  latter's  sisters.  The  ring  incident  reap- 
pears in  2,  6,  9,  ii  ;  the  incident  of  the  dining,  in  3,  4,  6,  9,  10,  n. 
12  omits  all  these  episodes.  In  5,  the  most  elaborate  of  all  the 
variants,  the  husband  thinks  he  detects  his  wife,  first  by  a  mole  on  her 
face ;  then  by  fitting  to  a  piece  of  apple  she  has  in  her  hand  a  piece 

1  See  O.  M.  Johnston,  Pub.  Mod.  Lang.  Assoc.  of  America,  1905,  XX,  p.  328,  note. 

2  Partial  or  extremely  distant  analogues  are  also  found  in  (i)  the  Hindoo 
Vasavadatta  (summarized  by  Clouston,  Popular  Tales  and  Fictions,  II,  p.  228); 
(2)  Masuccio,  Novellino,  Nos.  xxxvin  and  XL  ;   (3)  Malespini,  Ducente  Novelle, 
Pt.  II,  No.  53,  Venice,  1609,  pp.  182  f . ;  (4)  Marie  de  France's  lay  of  Gtugemar, 
ed.  Warnke,  pp.  5  f.  (see  Miss  L.  A.  Paton,  Radcliffe  College  Monographs,  No.  13, 
Boston,  1903,  p.  68);  (5)  Marie  de  France's  lay  of  Yonec,  ed.  Warnke,  pp.  123  f. 
(see  O.  M.  Johnston  in  Pub.  Mod.  Lang.  Assoc.,  XX,  pp.  322  f.).    According  to 
Keller,  Dyocletianus  Leben,  p.  62,  there  is  also  a  variant  of  inclusa  in   (Billets  de 
recreations,  p.  105,  and  a  metrical  version  by  Imbert. 


cxii  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

that  he  finds  at  her  chamber ;  later  he  is  forced  to  marry  her  to  the 
suitor ;  he  succeeds,  however,  after  the  ceremony  is  over,  in  boxing  her 
cheeks  and  making  her  face  bleed ;  but  when  he  returns  to  her  chamber, 
he  finds  that  she,  in  order  to  prevent  detection,  is  lacerating  her  own 
face.  In  10  the  husband  thinks  he  has  detected  his  wife  by  a  birth- 
mark behind  her  ear.  In  9  the  husband's  suspicions  are  aroused  by 
a  pet  dog  which  the  wife  has  given  the  suitor;  in  13,  similarly  by  a 
sword,  a  dagger,  and  a  bracelet ;  in  14,  by  a  dagger  and  a  watch.  The 
wife  deceives  her  husband  by  disguising  herself  as  a  young  dervish  in 
10 ;  as  a  slave,  in  14.  In  4  the  husband  is  made  drunk  and  brought  to 
believe  that  he  is  a  Turk ;  acting  on  this  belief  he  gives  up  his  wife  and 
sets  out  for  Ispahan.  In  5  the  husband,  after  losing  his  wife,  enters  a 
madhouse.  In  3  and  13  the  husband,  after  the  wife  has  been  stolen, 
pursues  the  couple ;  in  3  he  overtakes  them  and  regains  his  wife,  but 
later  loses  her  again.  10  is  told  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  husband ; 
the  several  pieces  of  deception  are 'practiced  on  him  in  order  to  cure 
him  of  his  jealousy.  In  7  the  wife  leaves  a  dummy  at  her  window,  and 
thus  deceives  her  husband  until  she  is  safely  out  of  his  reach.  In  14  the 
suitor,  after  taking  the  wife  to  his  own  land,  refuses  to  marry  her.  15  is 
incomplete,  but  is  surely  related  to  inclusa. 

15.  Vaticinium.1 —  In  all  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome  except 
L;  not  found  in  the  Dolopathos  nor  in  the  Book  of  Sindibad. 

In  H  vaticinium  appears  in  combination  with  amid,  a  very  early  ver- 
sion of  the  story  of  Amis  and  Amiloun.  Other  variations  introduced 
by  H  are  (i)  the  substitution  of  a  nightingale  for  the  two  ravens  which 
figure  in  the  opening  episode,  (2)  the  laying  the  scene  of  this  episode  at 
the  house  of  the  father  rather  than  in  a  boat  at  sea,  and  (3)  the  speci- 
fying Egypt  as  the  land  into  which  the  son  finally  comes  and  in  which 
he  attains  such  miraculous  distinction.  The  remaining  versions  record 
the  story  essentially  as  in  the  Middle  English  redactions. 

Among  the  derivates  or  parallels  of  vaticinium  are  the  following : 

(i)  Sansovino,  Cento  Novelle  Scelte,  Day  IV,  novel  5,  Venice,  1561, 
folios  144^  f.  (the  same  in  G.  C.  D[e]  T[ours],  Les  Facetievses  iovrnees, 
Day  VII,  novel  4,  Paris,  1583,  folios  218  f.);  (2)  Lope  de  Vega,  El pronos- 
tico  cumplido,  Coleccion  de  las  obras  sueltas,  Madrid,  1777,  VIII,  pp.  264  f. ; 

1  See  Keller,  Sept  Sages,  pp.  ccxxixf. ;  Keller,  Dyocletianus  Leben,  p.  63  ;  Clous- 
ton,  Book  of  Sindibad,  p.  350;  Kohler,  Kleinere  Schriften,  I,  pp.  148  f.  (also  in 
Melusine,  I,  cols.  384  f .) ;  Crane,  Italian  Popular  Tales,  pp.  159  f. 


ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES  cxiii 

(3)  Comparetti,  Novelline  popolare  italiane,  No.  56,  pp.  242  f . ;  (4)  Grimm, 
Kinder-  und  Hausmarchen,  Qth  ed.,  No.  33,  pp.  134  f.;  (5)  Visentini, 
Fiabe  Mantouane,  No.  50,  Turin,  1879,  PP-  2I9  ^-5  (^)  Ibid.,  No.  23, 
pp.  121  f. ;  (7)  J.  G.  von  Hahn,  Griechische  nnd  albanesische  Mdrchen, 
No.  45,  Pt.  I,  pp.  258  f.;  (8)  F.  M.  ..Luzel,  Ugendes  chretiennes  de  la 
Basse-Bretagne,  I,  pp.  290  f.  (the  same  in  Melusine,  1878,  I,  cols.  384  f .) ; 
(9)  Luzel,  Melusine,  I,  cols.  300  f.;  (10)  M.  Toeppen,  Aberglauben  aus 
Masuren,  2d  ed.,  Danzig,  1867,  pp.  150  f.;  (n)  A.  Ahlquist,  Versuch 
einer  mokscha-mordwinischen  Grammatik,  St.  Petersburg,  1861,  p.  97; 
(12)  Radloff,  Proben  der  Volkslit.  d.  tiirk.  Stamme  Siid-Siberiens,  Pt.  I, 
p.  208;  (13)  W.  Webster,  Basque  Legends,  London,  1877,  pp.  136  f . ; 
(14)  Ibid.,  pp.  137  f.;  (15)  W.  R.  S.  Ralston,  Tibetan  Tales,  pp.  273  f. 

The  first  of  these  reports  vaticinium  according  to  the  version  of  The 
Seven  Sages,  except  that  it  takes  no  account  of  the  steward  and  omits 
the  episode  of  the  foot- washing.  2,8,  and  9  were  also  probably  derived 
from  The  Seven  Sages ;  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  most  of  the  remain- 
ing analogues  are  ultimately  connected  with  it,  though  they  all  differ  in 
sundry  respects  from  it. 

The  prophecy  which  occasions  the  father's  anger  is  made  by  birds  (or 
a  bird)  only  in  i,  10,  n, 12, 13;  in  2  this  prophecy  is  made  by  a  magi- 
cian; in  5,  by  an  angel;  in  14,  by  a  mysterious  voice.  The  prophecy 
originates  with  the  son  in  8  and  9.  In  the  same  versions  the  immediate 
occasion  of  the  son's  making  the  prophecy  is  a  reprimand  administered 
to  him  for  some  slight  offense.  The  substance  of  the  prophecy  is,  in 
*»  5»  8, 13, 14,  that  the  father  will  one  day  serve  the  son ;  in  9,  that  the 
father  will  some  day  wash  the  son's  feet;  in  n,  that  the  father  will 
drink  from  the  water  in  which  the  son  has  bathed  his  feet ;  in  10,  that 
the  mother  will  wash  the  son's  feet  and  that  the  father  will  drink  from 
his  bath ;  in  7 ,  that  the  son  will  supplant  the  father  on  his  throne  (for 
in  7,  as  also  in  5  and  8,  the  father  is  a  king).  In  3  and  4  the  father's 
wrath  is  occasioned  merely  by  the  son's  report  that  he  has  learned  the 
language  of  birds. 

Only  in  i ,  2 ,  12,  and  1 3  is  the  son  cast  into  the  sea,  as  in  The  Seven 
Sages.  In  13  the  son  is  put  into  a  barrel  before  being  cast  into  the 
sea;  in  12  he  is  killed,  but  he  soon  comes  back  to  life  again.  In  3,  6, 
7,  8,  9,  and  14  the  father  gives  the  son  to  a  servant  (or  servants)  with 
instructions  to  put  him  to  death;  the  servant  takes  the  son  some  dis- 
tance from  the  father's  home  and  sets  him  free;  he  then  returns 


cxiv  ORIGINALS  AND  ANALOGUES 

and  presents  to  the  father,  as  evidence  of  having  obeyed  the  latter's 
commands,  either  a  little  finger  of  the  son  (7)  or  the  heart  of  a  dog 
which  he  asserts  is  the  son's  heart  (6,  9,  14). 

In  5  and  7  the  father  is  the  king  to  whose  court  the  son  finally  comes 
and  at  which  he  distinguishes  himself.  In  3,  4,  6,  8,  9,  14  the  son 
becomes  Pope.  In  6,  8,  9,  and  14  the  fulfillment  of  the  prophecy  and 
the  reconciliation  between  son  and  parents  take  place  at  Rome, 
whither  the  parents  (in  14,  only  the  mother)  have  come  to  do  penance 
for  their  ill  treatment  of  their  son. 


Here  Bigyns  f>e  Prices  of  fe  Seuyn  Sages. 


Lordynges  ]>at  here  likes  to  dwell, 
Leues  gowre  speche  and  heres  pis  spell. 
I  sal  gow  tel,  if  I  haue  tome, 
Of  ]>e  Seuen  Sages  of  Rome. 

Whilom  lifed  a  nobil  man ;  5 

His  name  was  Dyoclician. 
Of  Rome  and  of  al  pe  honowre 
Was  he  lord  and  emperowre. 
An  empires  he  had  to  wyfe, 

J?e  fayrest  lady  j?at  bare  life, —  10 

Of  al  gude  maners  ful  auenant ; 
And  hir  name  was  Dame  Milisant. 
A  childe  pai  had  bytwix  J>am  two, 
J>e  fayrest  fat  on  fote  myght  go, 
A  knaue  childe  fat  was  )>am  dere;  15 

Of  him  sone  sal  ge  selkuths  here. 

Sone  ef  terward  byf  el  pis  case : 
J>e  lady  died  and  grauen  was, 
And  went  whare  God  hyr  dight  to  dwell ; 
f>arfore  of  hir  na  more  I  tell,  20 

Whefer  sho  past  to  pyne  or  play; 
Bot  of  }>e  son  I  sal  jow  say. 
When  he  was  seuyw  winter  aide, 
Of  speche  and  bourding  was  he  balde. 

Heading  R  begyns,  process,  seuen.  —  i  R  Hordynges,  lykes.  —  2  W  yowr,  R 
yhour  spech.  —  3  R  sail  yhow  tell. — 5  R  lyfed,  noble  mane.  —  6  R  Diocliciane. 

—  7  R  all,  honoure.  —  8  R  emp^roure.  —  9  R  Ane  Emp^rise.  —  10  R  fairest,  lyfe. 

—  ii  R  all  gud,  full,  Wauenaunt.  —  13  R  child,  bi  twix. —  14  R  fairest.  —  15  W, 
R  child.  —  1 6  R  sail  yhe  selcouthes.  —  17  R  afterward  bi  fell.  —  18  R  dyed,  wase. 

—  19  R  hir  dyght.  —  20  R  >arfor,  no  more.  —  21  R  scho. —  22  R  sail  yhow. — 
23  R  seuen  wynter  aid.  —  24  R  spech,  bourdyng,  bald. 

i 


2  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

• 

Florentine  his  name  cald  was.  25 

Herkens  now  a  ferly  case. 

His  fader  was  Empmmre  of  Rome, 
A  nobil  man  and  whise  of  dome; 
And  Florentine  fat  was  so  fayre 
Was  his  son  and  als  his  ayre.  30 

It  was  nothing  J>at  he  lufed  mare, 
J>arfore  he  wold  him  set  to  lare ; 
v      And  sone  he  gert  byforn  hym  come 
Seuyn  Maysters  fat  war  in  Rome. 
J>e  tale  vs  telles,  who  to  it  tentes,  35 

J>at  fai  kowth  al  fe  seuy#  sienz. 
And  sone  when  fai  war  efter  sent, 
Hastly  to  fe  court  fai  went. 
J>ai  come  byfor  fe  Empm^ure, 
And  hailsed  him  with  grete  honours.  40 

He  said :  "  Lordinges,  takes  entent, 
And  sese  whi  I  efter  jow  sent: 
For  ge  er  wisest  men  of  lare 
f>at  in  ]>is  werld  jit  euer  ware, 

My  son  I  wil  ge  haue  forfi,  45 

To  make  him  kunand  in  clergy;     [25  d] 
And  I  wil  fat  ge  teche  him  euyn 
J>e  sutelte  of  sience  seuyn; 
And  al  gowre  wisdom  and  jowre  wit, 
Mi  wil  es  fat  je  teche  him  it.  50 

Whilk  of  jow  now  wil  him  haue 
And  fullfil  f is  fat  I  craue  ?  " 

Maister  Bancillas  spak  fan; 
For  of  fam  was  he  oldest  man. 
Lene  Jie  was  and  also  lang,  55 

25  R  fflorentyne. —  27  R  Empmnir. —  28  R  noble,  wise.  —  29  R  Florentyne. 

—  32  R  >arfor,  sett.  —  33  R  bi  for  him.  —  34  R  Seuen  maisters.  —  36  R  couth 
all,  seuen  scientes.  —  38  R  Hastily.  —  39  R  bi  for.  —  40  R  gret.  —  41  R  lordynges. 

—  42  R  yhow.  —  43  R  yhe,  wysest.  —  44  R  world  yhit.  —  45  R  will  yhe.  —  46  R 
mak,  conand,  W  cunnand.  —  47  R  will,  yhe,  euen.  —  48  R  sotelte,  science  seuen. 

—  49  R  all  yhour,  yhour  wytt. —  50  R  will,  yhe,  itt. —  51  R  yhow,  will. —  52  R 
full  fyll.  —  54  JFthat.  —  55  R  all  so. 


THE    SEVEN    SAGES  3 

And  moste  gentil  man  ]>am  omang; 

Ful  p^rfiteli  he  kouth  his  paries, 

And  sadly  of  al  ]>e  seuyn  artes. 

"Sir,"  he  said,  "tak  me  \\  son; 

Ful  mekil  thank  I  wil  J>e  kun  ;  60 

And  trewly  I  sal  teche  him  fan 

Of  clergy  more  pan  ani  man,  — 

f>at  dar  I  vndertak  pe  here, — 

Within  J>e  trnne  of  seuyn  £ere." 

When  )>is  was  said,  he  held  his  pese.  65 

And  fan  said  Maister  Anxilles. 
He  was  a  man  meteliest, 
And  of  eld  as  him  semed  best, 
Of  sexty  winter  and  na  mare ; 

And  als  he  was  ful  wise  of  lare.  70 

"  Sir,  tak  me  \\  son,"  he  said, 
'•''And  J>ou  sal  hald  J>e  ful  wele  payd. 
I  sal  him  lere  ful  right  and  rath 
]?at  I  can  and  mi  felqus  bath. 

I  vndertak  he  sal  it  lere  75 

Within  fe  space  of  sex  £ere." 

J>e  thrid  maister  was  litel  man, 
Faire  of  chere  and  white  als  swan ; 
His  hare  was  white  and  nathing  brown ; 
And  he  hight  Maister  Lentilioune.  80 

He  spak  vnto  J>e  Empm)ure: 
"  Tak  me  ]>i  sun,  sir,  p^ramowre, 
And  I  sal  teche  him  ful  trewly 
Al  maner  of  clergy 

J>at  ani  man  leres  in  pis  Hue,  85 

Within  pe  tenne  of  jeres^  fiue." 

56  JFmost,  R  mast  gentyll.  —  57  R  ffull  p^rfytely,  couth,  Win  instead  of  his.  — 
58  fi  all,  seuen.  —  59  R  sayd.  —  60  R  ffull  mykell,  will,  kon.  —  61  R  sail.  — 
62  R  any.  —  63  W  ye  for  >e.  —  64  R  space  of  seuen  yhere.  —  65  R  sayd.  —  6"j  R 
metelyest.  —  69  R  wynter,  no  mare.  —  70  R  full.  —  72  W  you,  ye,  ^  sail,  full.  — 
73  ^  sail,  full  ryght,  rathe.  —  74  R  kan,  my  felows  bathe.  —  75  R  sail.  —  76  R  yhere. 
—  77  R  thred,  lytell.  —  78  R  whyte,  Was.  —  79  R  nothing broune.  —  82  .A* son,  para- 
moure.  —  83  R  sail,  full.  —  84  R  All. — 85  R  any,  lyue.  —  86  Wtime,  R  yheres  fyue. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>e  ferth  maister  a  rede  man  was, 
And  his  name  was  Malquidras ; 
Of  fifty  winter  was  he  aide, 

Quaint  of  hand  and  of  speche  balde.  90 

Him  thoght  scorn  and  grete  hething 
J>at  fai  made  so  grete  rosing. 
"Syr,"  he  sayd,  "I  sal  tell  }>e,     [26  a] 
Mi  felows  wit  fals  noght  to  me,  v 
Ne  of  paire  wisdom  o  nane  wise  95 

Wil  I  mak  no  marchandise. 
Bot,  sir,  )ri  son  vnto  me  take, 
And  I  sal  teche  him  for  \\  sake 
J>e  sienz  of  Astronomy, 

J>at  falles  to  sternes  of  ]>Q  sky,  100 

And  ofer  sex  syenz  alswa, 
In  foure  jere  withowten  ma." 

J>e  fift  master  was  wise  of  dome; 
And  he  was  cald  Caton  of  Rome. 
He  made  }>e  boke  of  Catoun  clere,  105 

J>at  es  biginwywg  of  Gramere. 
He  karped  loud  vnto  pe  Kyng : 
"  Sir,  tak  pi  son  to  mi  techeing ; 
I  wald  noght  he  decayued  ware, 
Bot  I  ne  knaw  noght  mi  felous  lare.  no 

Bot  for  to  lere  him  I  warand 
Als  mekil  als  he  mai  vnderstand, 
And  als  his  wittes  wele  bere  may — 
For]?ermare  dar  I  noght  say — 

So  ]?at  in  time  of  seuen  jere  115 

He  sal  be  wise  withowten  were." 


87  R  ]>e  mutilated,  red.  —  89  R  fyfty  wynter,  aid.  —  90  R  Quaynt,  spech  bald, 
W  hande.  —  91  R  skorn,  gret.  —  92  R  swa  gret  rosyng,  W  josyng.  —  93  R  Sir, 
said,  sail,  W  tel.  —  94  R  witt  falles.  —  95  R  pair  wisdome  on  none  wyse.  —  96  R 
Will,  nuzrchandyse.  —  97  W  this.  —  98  R  sail.  —  99  R  science. —  100  R  inserts 
)?e  after  to. —  101  R  science  all  swa. —  102  R  yhere  wz't/$  outen. —  103  R  fyft. — 
105  R  buke,  Caton. —  106  W  biginyng,  R  bi  gynyng. —  107  R  carped. —  108  W 
this,  R  my  techyng.  —  1 1  o  R  my  felows.  — 112^  mykell,  may.  —  113^  wy ttes,  may 
bere.  —  1 1 5  R  tyme,  yhere.  —  1 16  R  sail,  w*'t/$outen. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  5 

J>e  sext  maister  rase  vp  onane; 
J>e  fairest  man  of  ]?am  ilkane ; 
lesse  was  his  name,  godote, 

Withouten  faut  fra  heuid  to  fote.  120 

His  haire  was  blayke  and  nothing  broun, 
With  eghen  faire  als  a  faukoun. 
"Sir,"  he  said,  "if  J>i  wil  wen?, 
Tak  ]n  son  to  me  at  ler<?; 

I  sal  him  teche  with  hert  fre,  125 

So  fat  inwith  geres  thre 
Sal  he  be  so  wise  of  lar<? 
J>at  ge  sal  thank  me  eumnare." 

J?e  seuind   maistdr,  Maxencius, 

A  right  wis  man  and  vertiuus, —  130 

Al  his  life  with  grete  honowre 
Had  he  serued  J>e  Emperoure, — 
"Sir,"  he  said,  "if  \\  will  be, 
For  al  J>at  I  haue  serued  J>e, 

Bitake  \\  son  vnto  my  lare;  135 

For  mi  seruise  I  ask  no  mare. 
Ful  mekil  thank  I  wil  J>e  kun ; 
And  al  fe  clergy  vnder  son 
Sal  I  him  teche  to  kun  ful  right. 
Ful  hardily  J)is  I  ]?e  hyght."     [26  b]  140 

When  ]>Q  maisters  ]>us  had  sayd, 
J>e  Emperoure  ful  wele  was  payd ; 
He  spak  to  J>am  with  meri  chere, 
And  said  on  heght  pat  al  might  here. 
He  said :  "I  thank  50  w  all,  lordinges^  145 

Of  gowr<?  answers  in  al  thinges ; 
For  if  mi  son  so  wele  may  lerc 

117  R  rayse. —  120  ?f  faute,  held,  R  fro  heued. —  121  R  hare,  blayk,  broune. — 
122  j^fawkoune. —  123  JR  will. —  1257?  sail. —  126  R  with  in  yheres. —  127  R  Sail. 
—  128  R  yhe  sail.  —  129  R  seuynd.  —  130  R  ryght  wyse.  —  131  R  All,  lyfe,  gret 
honoure. —  134  R  all. —  135  R  Bi  tak. —  136  R  my  seruyse. —  137  R  ffull  mykell, 
will,  con. —  138  R  all.  —  139  R  Sail,  tech,  full  ryght.  —  140  R  ffull. —  142  R 
full. —  143  R  mery. —  144  R  all  myght. —  145  R  yhow,  lordynges.  — 146  R 
yhowr,  all.  —  147  R  my. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

To  kun  gowre  vertuse  al  in  fer<?, 

Sertes  fan  wald  I  be  blithe 

And  gif  sow  tresore,  land,  and  lithe.  150 

And  sen  ge  prefer  fusgat  now, 

I  wil  ge  tak  mi  son  with  ^ow, 

And  teche  him  al  f  e  artes  seuyn, 

J>at  none  be  whiser  vnder  heuy«. 

And  je  sal  dwel  togeder  still,  155 

And  teche  mi  son  —  f  is  es  mi  will  — 

So  fat  he  \ere  noght  al  of  ane, 

Bot  with  al  sal  he  be  forth  tane." 

By  fe  hand  he  toke  fe  childe 

And  gaf  him  to  }>o  maisters  milde.  160 

J>e  maisters  war  farof  ful  blith, 
And  thanked  him  ful  fele  sithe. 
J>ai  toke  fain?  leue  and  went  in  hy 
With  fe  childe  to  fe  consistori, 
pat  es  a  stede  within  Rome  165 

Whare  clerkes  cumes  fat  kan  wisedome. 
f>e  maisters  fare  faire  kounsail  toke 
For  to  set  fis  childe  to  boke. 
J>ai  said  in  Rome  dwel  might  he  noght, 
For  faire  wemen  sold  change  his  thoght;  170 

In  ryot  so  fai  sold  him  sett 
J>at  al  his  lar<?  sone  sold  it  let. 

J>ai  toke  kownsail  omang  fam  all 
At  haue  fe  childe  vnto  a  hall 

Biside  Rome  in  a  vergers,  175 

A  myle  fra  toun,  bi  a  reuen? ; 
J>e  water  of  Tyber  ran  far<?obout, 


148  R  yhowr,  all. —  149  R  blythe.  —  150  R  gyf  yhow,  lythe.  —  151  R  yhe, 
Jmsgate.  — 152  R  will  yhe,  my,  yhow. — 153  R  tech,  all,seuen. —  154^  wiser,  heuen. 

—  1 5 5  tf  yhe  sail  dwell  to  gyder  styll.  —  1 56  R  my,  my.  —  157^  Sa,  all.  —  1 58  R  all 
sail,  furth. —  ^59  R  Bi,  child. —  160  R  }>e,  mylde. —  161  R  bareof  full  blythe.— 
162  R  full,  sythe.  — 163  R  }>air. — 164  R  child,  consistory.  — 166  R  comes,  wisdome. 

—  167  R  >air  counsail. —  168  R  sett,  child. —  169  R  dwell  myght.  —  170  R  fair 
wymen  suld  chaunge.  —  171  R  suld. —  172  R  all,  suld,  lett. —  173  R  counsail. — 
174  R  child.  —  175  R  Besyde. —  176  R  toune  be,  ryuere. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  7 

And  thorgh  Rome,  fis  es  no  dowt. 

Al  maner  of  trese  groued  fan?  „ 

J>at  ani  froyt  on  erth  bare.  180 

J?ar<?  was  a  hal  with  chambers  seuen  ; 

Fairer  was  none  vnder  heuyn. 

J>e  chambers  closed  obout  ]>e  hall 

So  J>at  it  stode  omang  f  am  all ; 

Fayrer  hal  was  none  in  land,  185 

Richely  painted  with  mans  hand. 

J>are  war  paynted  in  diuers  partes     [26  c] 
Sotelly  al  fe  seuyn  artes; 
f>at  es,  to  wit,  first  Gramary, 

Musike  and  Astronomy,  190 

Geometri  and  Ars  Metrike, 
Fisik  and  also  Retorike. 
J>e  child  sege  in  middes  was  wroght 
So  fat  he  al  se  fam  moght. 

In  fat  sege  he  set  him  down  ;  195 

J>e  maisters  teched  him  a  lessown. 
When  ane  him  left,  anofer  him  toke, 
J>at  he  was  euer  halden  at  his  boke; 
And  to  his  lar<?  euer  toke  he  kepe, 
Bot  when  he  etc  or  when  he  slepe.  200 

When  he  wald  rest  him  at  his  boke, 
On  }>e  walles  wald  he  fan  loke, 
Whare  he  might  se  paynted  euyn 
Ful  opynly  fe  artes  seuyn. 

Sone  he  concayued  in  Latin  speche  205 

Al  fat  his  maisters  wald  him  teche ; 
He  toke  so  gude  tent  to  his  lare, 
Arly  and  late  and  euermare, 

178  R  thurgh,  dout.  —  179  R  All  manure,  trees.  —  180  R  any  frute,  MS.  erth.  — 
181  R  hall,  chaumbers.  —  182  R  heuen.  —  183  R  chaumbers.  —  185  R  ffairer  hall. 
—  186  R  Rychely  paynted.—  187  R  diuerse.—  188  R  all,  seuen.—  189  R  witt.— 
190  R  Musyke. —  191  R  Geometry,  als  Metryke.  —  192  R  ffysyke,  all  so  Retoryke^ 
—  193  R  myddes. —  194  R  all. —  195  R  sett,  doune. —  196  R  lessoune. — 197  R 
aneotlvr.  —  198  R  buke.  —  201  R  buke. —  203  R  myght,  euen. —  204  R  ffull  openly, 
seuen.  —  205  R  consayued,  latyn.  —  206  R  All.  —  207  R  gud.  —  208  R  Arely. 


8  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>at  fe  ferth  %ere  in  fat  hall 

Dessputed  he  with  his  maisters  all;  210 

Was  none  so  witty  fer  ne  ner<? 

Of  Gramere  ne  of  Mosike  clen?. 

f>e  fift  jen?  held  he  argument 

Of  planetes  in  fe  firmament. 

f>e  sext  %ere  his  maist^rs  thoght  215 

For  to  asay  him  yf  f  ai  moght ; 
J>ai  puruaid  fam  leues  sextene 
J>at  war  of  iubarb  gude  and  grene. 
J>e  child  lay  in  a  bed  o  loft, 

Made  ful  esely  and  soft;  220 

Vnder  ilka  corner  of  fe  bed 
Founr  leues  }>e  maysters  spred, — 
Ilkane  on  ofer  als  fam  thoght. 
Bot  fe  maisters  werk  ne  wist  he  noght. 
J>e  childe  went  to  his  bed  fat  night,  225 

And  sone  him  thoght  it  raised  on  hight. 
]?arfor<?  fat  night  he  sleped  noght, 
Bot  euer  in  his  hert  he  thoght 
j?at  fe  firmament  was  satteld  doun 
Wele  lawer  fan  it  was  won ;  230 

Or  els  fe  erth  was  raised  bidene 
f>e  thiknes  of  four*?  leues  grene. 
J>us  lay  he  thinkand  al  fat  night. 
And  sone,  when  it  was  dayes  light,     [26  d] 
He  redied  him  and  went  to  hall.  235 

J?arin  he  fand  his  maisters  all ; 
He  hailsed  fam,  and  hendly  stode 
Al  bar<?heuid  withouten  hode. 

J>e  childe  luked  obout  him  fast ; 
And  hastily  his  maisters  ast  240 

209  R  yhere.  —  210  R  Desputed.  —  211^  wytty.  —  212  R  Gramfer,  Musyke.  — 
213  R  fyft  yhere. —  215  R  yhere,  maysters. —  216  R  ffor  till  assay,  if.  —  217  R 
puruayd. — 218  R  lubark  gud.  —  220  R  full,  and  full  soft.  —  222  R  maisters. — 
224  R  wist  instead  of  noght.  — 225  R  child,  nyght.  —  226  R  raysed,  hyght.  —  227  R 
J?arfor,  nyght.  —  229  R  done.  —  230  R  wone.  —  231  R  raysed.  —  233  R  all,  nyght. 

—  234  R  days  lyght.  —  235  R  redyedy.  —  236^>arein. —  237  R  haylsed,  hendely. 

—  238  R  All,  heued.  —  239  R  child  loked.  —  240  R  maysters. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  9 

What  thing  he  p^rsaiued  in  fat  place. 

"P^rfay,"  he  said,  "a  ferly  case; 

For  owper  am  I  mad  or  drunken, 

Or  els  pe  heuen  es  sumdel  sonken, 

Or  els  raised  es  pis  grounde  245 

J>e  thiknes  of  foure  leues  rounde; 

J>is  night  so  mekill  higher  I  lay 

More  pan  it  was  gisterday." 

J>e  maisters  pan  wele  vnderstode 

J>e  childes  wit  was  wonder  gode.  250 

Or  pe  seuin  jere  war  gane, 

He  past  his  maisters  euerilkane. 

Togeder  had  pai  grete  solace. 
Bot  sone  pan  fel  a  ferly  case. 

Of  pe  riche  ~Emperoure  of  Rome  255 

I  sal  jow  tel  if  I  haue  tome ; 
f>arfor<?  pe  childe  now  lat  we  be, 
And  of  his  fader  speke  wil  we.        *^- 
His  knightes  com  to  him  on  a  day, 
And  pir  wordes  gan  pai  say :  260 

"  Sir,  je  lif  an  anly  life ; 

We  wald  jow  rede  to  wed  a  wife,  , 

To  haue  solace  bitwix  gow  twa, 
And  fandes  to  get  childer  ma ; 

For  ge  haue  werldes  welth  gude  wane  265 

To  mak  pam  riche  men  ilkane." 

Hereof  pe  Emperowre  was  payd, 
And  sone  asented  als  pai  said. 
f>ai  puruaid  him  an  empmse, 
A  gentil  lady  of  mekil  prise,  270 

241  R  p^sayued.  —  243  R  outher,  dronken.  —  244  R  somdele.  —  245  R  raysed, 
ground.  —  247  R  nyght,  mykell  hegher.  —  248  R  yhisterday. —  250  R  witt,  gude.  — 
251  ^seuen  yhere.  —  253  R  To  gyder,  gret.  —  254  R  fell.  —  255  R  ryche  Empmmr. 
—  256  R  sail  yhow  tell.  —  257  R  )>arfor,  child.  —  258  R  spek  will.  —  259  R  knyghtes 
come.  —  261  R  yhe  lyfe  ane  anely  lyue. —  262  R  yhow  red,  wyue.  —  263  R  To 
mutilated,  yhow. —  264  R  gett.  —  265  R  yhe,  worldes,  gud. —  266  R  ryche.— 
267  R  Emp^rour.  —  268  R  assented,  sayd.  —  269  R  puruayd  )>am  ane.  —  270  R 
gentyll,  mykell  pryse. 


10  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

Ful  lufsom  and  of  high  lenage. 

J>e  Empm>ur<?  asked  fe  mariage ; 

J>e  barnage  al  farto  asent 

J>at  he  sold  wed  fat  ladi  gent. 

J>an  war  fai  wed  by  comuw  dome;  275 

J>at  was  fe  custum  fan  in  Rome. 

J>ai  made  grete  mirth  and  mangery, 

And  samin  lufed  J>ai  ful  trewly. 

J>ar<f  was  grete  welth  at  fain?  wedy/zg, 

Als  semly  was  to  swilk  a  thing.  280 

Sone  efter  fat  fel  ferly  case;     [27  a] 
I  sal  gow  tel  how  fat  it  wase. 
For  nathing  mai  ay  vnhid  be, 
Bot  anely  Goddes  awin  preuete. 
Opon  a  day  a  seriant  nyce  285 

Tald  vnto  fe  Emperice 
Of  fe  Emp<?rour<?  son  ful  euyn, 
And  how  he  wond  with  maisters  seuyn, 
And  how  he  sal  be  Emperowre 

Efter  his  fader  of  fat  honowr^,  290 

And  how  hir  barnes  sal  be  bastardes, 
And  how  he  sal  haue  al  fe  wardes, 
And  how  he  sal  haue  in  his  hand 
Al  fe  lordship  of  fat  land. 

When  fe  Empmce  herd  of  fis  childe,  295 

Hir  thoght  fat  sho  was  euil  bigild ; 
And  in  hir  hert  sho  thoght  ful  sone, 
With  wichecraft  sold  he  be  vndone. 
Sho  puruaid  hir  a  counsailour/?, 
A  wiche  fat  cowth  hir  wele  socour^.  300 

271  R  ffull,  hegh.  —  272  R  Emp^rour,  maryage.  —  273  R  bernage  all,  assent. — 
274  .tfsuld,  lady.  —  275  A*  be  cotnon.  —  276  R  custom.  —  277  A"gret  myrth,  maungery. 

—  278  R  samen,  full.  —  279  R  gret,  J>air.  —  280  R  semely.  —  281  R  efter  ban  fell  a. 

—  282  R  sail  yhow  tell.  —  283  R  no  thing  may,  vnhyd.  —  284  A'  godes  awen. —  286  R 
Emp<?ryse. —  287  R  Emp<rrour,  full  euen.  —  288  R  seuen  —  289  R  sail,  Empm^ure. 

—  290  R  After,  honoure.  —  291  R  sail.  —  292  R  sail,  all.  —  293  R  sail.  —  294  R 
All,  lordschip. —  295  R  Emp^ryse,  child. —  296  R  om.  J>at,  R  scho,  euell  bigyld. 

—  297  R  scho,  full.  —  298  R  wychecraft  suld. —  299  R  Scho  puruayd,  counsayloure. 

—  300  R  wyche,  couth. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  II 

f>ai  made  couenant  bitwen  fam  twa 

J>e  Emp^rours  son  for  to  sla. 

J>ai  ordand  Jms  bi  J>aire  asent 

A  maner  of  experiment, 

J>at  if  }>e  childe  spak  les  or  mare,  305 

Fra  he  into  court  entred  ware 

To  seuyn  daies  war  went  fully, 

At  J>e  first  word  sold  he  dy; 

And  if  he  seuyn  daies  hald  him  still, 

Efter  may  he  speke  at  will.  310 

pus  was  }>aire  purpose  and  faire  thoght 

J>e  childe  sone  to  dede  haue  broght. 

Bot  mani  wald  greue  ofer  sare 

And  to  pamself  turnes  al  )>e  care. 

On  j>e  same  wise  fel  it  here;  315 

Herkins  now  on  what  manere. 

J>e  Emp[>r]oure  and  his  faire  wife,    <- 
pat  he  lufed  euer  als  his  life, 
On  a  day  J>ai  played  ]>am  samen ; 
And  als  J>ai  war  best  in  )>aire  gamen,  320 

"  Sir,"  sho  said,  "  bi  heuin  king, 
I  luf  jow  ouer  al  o]>er  thing, 
And  je  luf  me  noght  so  trewly; 
I  sal  sow  say  encheson  why. 

Vntil  J>is  court  when  }>at  I  come,  325 

ge  made  me  Empmce  of  Rome, 
To  be  with  gow  at  bed  and  borde, 
And  wit  gowre  cownsail  ilka  worde.      [27  b] 
Bot  a  thing  haue  ge  hid  fra  me 
pat  I  haue  moste  desire  to  se.  330 

301  R  conand,  bitwene.  —  302  R  Emperour.  —  303  R  ordaind,  bair  assent.  — 
304  R  manure,  experyment.  —  305  R  child. — 306  R  ffro. — 307  R  seuen  days. 
—  308  R  suld.  —  309  R  seuen  days,  styll.  —  310  R  wyll.  —  311  R  >air,  J?air. — 
312  R  child,  ded.  —  313  R  many.  —  314  R  all.  —  315  R  fell.  —  316  R  Herkens. — 
317  MS  Empoun?,  R  fair  wyfe.  —  318  R  lyfe.  —  319--^  playd.  —  320  R  J>air. — 
321  R  scho  sayd,  heuen  kyng.  —  322  R  yhow,  all,  thyng.  —  323  R  yhe,  MS. 
lul. —  324  R  sail  yhow.  —  325  R  vntyll.  — 326  R  Yhe,  Emp^ryse. —  327  R  yhow, 
bord.  —  328  R  witt  yhour  counsail,  word.  —  329  R  yhe  hyd  fro.  —  330  R  most 
desyre. 


12  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

"ge  haue  a  son  fat  es  ^ow  dere, 
With  seuyn  maisters  for  to  lere; 
He  es  ]>i  son,  sir,  and  fine  ayr<?, 
^4«^/  als,  I  here  say,  whise  and  fayr<?. 
I  wald  se  him  bifor  me  stand  335 

J>at  es  so  wise  and  so  cunand ; 
I  luf  him  wele,  for  he  wil  thriue; 
Al  samyn  I  wald  we  led  our<?  Hue. 
For  sertes,  sir,  sen  he  es  fine, 

Me  think  also  he  sold  be  myne.  340 

For  sertes,  sir,  it  mai  fal  swa, 
J>at  neuer  gettes  ]>ou  childer  ma. 
If  fou  wil  euer  haue  ioy  of  me, 
J>i  fahv  son  ]>ou  lat  me  se." 

Son  answerd  fe  Empmmre,  345 

And  said  :  "  Dame,  by  Saint  Sauiore, 
J>ou  sal  him  se,  yf  fat  I  may, 
-Tomorn  by  vnderon  of  fe  day." 

Sho  answerd  fan  with  semblant  blith, 
"  Gramercy,  syr,  a  hundereth  sith.  350 

I  sal  him  honors  at  my  myght, 
Als  I  am  halden  wele  by  right." 
J>e  Empm>ur<?  cald  currurs  twa, 
And  bad  fam  swith  fat  fai  sold  ga 
His  erand  to  fe  Seuyn  Sages,  355 

And  to  fam  tald  he  his  message[s]  : 
"ge  sal  fam  prai,  on  al  manere, 
Send  hame  my  son,  fat  es  me  der<?; 
For  I  wil  wit  tomorn  by  prime 

How  fat  he  has  set  his  tyme;  360 

Miself  sal  bath  se  and  her<? 


331  R  Yhe,  yhow.  —  332  R  seuen.  —  334  R  wise.  —  335  R  be  for.  —  336  R 
conand.  —  337  R  will  thryue.  —  338  R  All  samen,  our  lyue.  —  340  R  all  so,  suld. 

—  341  R  may  fall.  —  343  R  will.  —  344  R  fair.  —  345  R  Sone.  —  346  R  be,  sauyoure. 

—  347  R  sail,  if.  —  348  R  bi.  —  349  R  Scho,  sembland  blyth.  —  350  R  sir,  h'undreth 
sythe.  —  351   R  sail,  honoure.  —  352  R  bi  ryght.  —  353  R   emp^rour.  —  354  R 
swyth,  suld. —  355  R  seuen.  —  356  MS.  message.  —  357  R  Yhe  sail,  pray,  all. — 
359  R  will  witt,  be  pryme.  —  360  R  sett.  —  361  R  sail. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  13 


What  he  has  lered  ]>is  seuyn 

J>e  messagers  er  wightly  went 
To  do  faire  lordes  cuwandment. 
Unto  fe  place  smertly  J>ai  come  365 

Whare  J>ai  wond  withouten  Rome. 
Into  fe  hal  fai  went  ful  euyn, 
And  fare  fai  fand  fe  Maisters  Seuyn, 
Faire  desputand  in  Latyne 

With  fe  Jung  childe,   Florentine.  370 

f>e  messages  on  knese  fam  set, 
And  fe  maysters  faire  fai  gret. 
J>e  child  also  fai  gret  ful  fain? 
Als  prince  of  Rome  and  kindest  ayn?. 

J?ai  said:  "J>e  Empm)ur<?  of  Rome     [270]        375 
Cumand  vs  heder  to  come  ; 
He  biddes  ge  sal  send  hame  his  son, 
And  hastily  fat  it  be  done, 
J>at  he  cum  in  his  awin  presens  ; 
And  for  jowre  trauail  and  jowr^  spens  380 

He  wil  gow  quite  on  al  manere, 
And  mak  aseth  for  fis  seuyn  gere." 
J>e  messagers  war  welkum  far<? 
With  fa  maisters  les  and  mar<?. 

Vnto  ]>Q  soper^  war  J>ai  sett,  385 

And  riche  fode  bifor  fam  fett; 
Ful  wele  at  ese  pare  war  ]?ai  made 
With  al  gamyns  fat  men  might  glade. 

J>are  f  ai  soiornd  al  fat  night  ; 

J>e  mone  and  sternes  bath  shined  bright.  390 

Forth  fan  went  fe  maisters  all, 


362  R  seuen  yhere.  —  363  R  .  Messangers.  —  364  R  bair,  comandement.  — 
367  R  hall,  full  euen.  —  368  R  seuen.  —  369  R  ffair.  —  370  R  yhong  child 
fflorentyne.  —  371  R  messangers,  sett.  —  372  R  maisters  fair,  grett.  —  373  R  all 
so,  grett  full.  —  374^  prynce,  kyndest.—  375  R  sayd,  Emperour. —  376  R 
Cpmand,  hyder.  —  377  R  byddes  yhe  sail,  sone.  —  379  R  com,  awe^  presence. — 
380  R  yhour,  yhour  spence.  —  381  R  will  yhow  quyte,  all.  —  382  R  seuen  yhere. 
—  383  R  messangers,  welcom.  —  386  R  ryche,  befor.  —  387  R  ffull.  —  388  R  alkyn 
gamen,  myght.  —  389  R  all,  nyght.  —  390  R  both  schyned  bryght. 


14  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

And  fe  childe  with  fam  gan  fai  call 

Preuely  to  a  gardine ; 

And  fan?  fai  teched  Florentine 

How  fat  he  sold  do  and  say  395 

His  lord  fe  Empm>wre  to  pay. 

And  in  fat  time  fai  toke  entent, 

<<4«</  loked  vp  to  fe  fyrmament; 

J>ai  saw  fe  constellaciowne. 

pareof  a  wise  man  was  Catoun ;  400 

He  luked  fe  sternes  and  fe  mone, 

And  what  he  saw  he  said  ful  sone  : 

"  Felous,  ge  sal  vnderstand 
Slike  ferlies  neuer  bifor<?  I  fand ; 
f>e  Empm>ure  has  til  vs  sent  405 

To  bring  him  hame  his  .son  so  gent ; 
And  if  we  bring  him  to  his  lord, 
I  se  fare  sal  be  sone  discord. 
For  if  he  speke  with  man  or  wyfe, 
At  )>e  first  word  he  loses  his  life;  410 

And  if  him  swilk  vnhap  bifall, 
J>e  Empm)ur<?  wil  ger  sla  vs  all. 
And  fat  it  sal  fusgat  be  done, 
May  je  se  in  sternes  and  mone." 
J>an  fai  biheld  fe  sternes  ilkane,  415 

And  al  acorded  fai  vntil  ane, 
J>at  al  was  soth  fat  Caton  talde. 
And  Florentine  fan  gan  byhalde 
Vnto  f e  sternes  and  to  fe  mone, 
And  what  he  saw  he  said  ful  sone.  420 

He  said :  "  Sirs,  se  ge  noght  fis  tide 


392  R  child.  —  393  R  gardyne.  —  394  MS.  fflorcentine,  R  fflorentyne.  —  395  R 
suld.  —  396  R  fader  instead  of  lord,  Empire  ure. —  397  R  tyme,  tuke.  —  398  R  luked, 
firmament.  —  399  R  constellacyoune.  —  400  R  wyse,  Catoune.  —  401  R  loked. — 
402  R  full.  —  403  R  ffelows  yhe  sail.  —  404  R  Swilk  ferlyes.  —  405  R  Empm>ur, 
till.  —  406^  bryng. —  407  .tfbryng. — 408  .tfsall. — 410^  lose,  lyfe.  —  411  ^vnhapp. 
—  412  .A*  Empm>ur  will. — 413^  sail  J>usgate.  —  414  R  yhe  se  bi  be  sternes  and  be 
mone.  —  416  R  all,  vntyll.  —  417  R  all,  tald.  —  418  R  iflorentyne,  bi  hald. — 
420  R  sayd  full.  —  42 1  R  syrs,  yhe,  tyde. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  15 

A  litel  stern  J>e  mone  bisyde  ?     [27  d] 

Can  ge  me  tel,  Jns  pray  I  jow, 

What  gone  stern  bitakins  now  ? " 

J>an  sayd  J>e  maisters,  mar<?  and  myn :  425 

"Tel  vs  what  ]>ou  sese  J>ar<?yn." 

"Sirs,"  he  said,  "I  sal  jow  tell 
What  )>e  mone  and  }>e  stmies  menes  omel. 
f>e  mone  sais  I  sal  dy  with  wreke 
At  }>e  first  word  fat  I  speke ;  430 

J>e  litel  stern  fan  tels  me  till 
If  I  mai  seuyn  dayes  hald  me  still 
And  answer  vnto  J?am  nathing, 
J>an  sal  I  lif  in  gude  liking,   u       \, 
And  I  sal  be  of  grete  renowne,    ix  435 

And  saue  gow  fra  destrucciowne." 
J>e  maisters  vnderstode  ful  wele 
f>at  he  said  soth  ilka  dele. 

f>an  spak  Maist<?r  Bausillas, 

And  said :  "  f>is  es  a  ferly  case.  440 

I  rede  we  tak  our<?  kounsail  sone 
On  what  maner  es  best  to  done." 
J>e  childe  [said]:  "Sirs,  saun  fayle, 
I  sal  tel  gow  my  counsayle  : 

Seuen  daies  sal  I  hald  me  still  445 

And  speke  na  word,  gude  ne  ill ; 
And  sen  ge  er  Seuyn  Maysters  wise, 
In  al  fe  werld  maste  of  prise, 
By  gowr<?  wit  me  think  je  may 

Ilka  man  saue  me  a  day,  450 

And  warand  me  with  gown?  wisdom 

422  R  lytell  sterne.  —  423  R  Kan  yhe,  tell,  yhow.  —  424  R  yhone  sterne,  bi 
takens.  —  425  R  said,  more.  —  426  R  Tell,  t>are  in.  —  427  R  sail  yhow.  —  428  R 
omell.  —  429  R  says,  sail.  —  430  R  fyrst.  —  431  R  lytell  sterne,  telles,  tyll.  —  432  R 
may  seuen  days,  styll.  — 433  R  nothing.  —  434  R  sail,  lyf ,  gud  lykyng.  —  435  R  sail, 
gret.  —  436  R  yhow,  destruccyoune.  —  437  R  full.  —  438  R  inserts  euer  after  soth. 

—  439  R  I73-  °f  Pan  illegible,  Bancillas.  —  441  R  red,  our  counsail.  —  442  R  manure. — 
443  R  child,  MS.  om.  said,  R  syrs.  —  444  R  sail  tell  yhow.  —  445  R  days  sail,  styll. 

—  446  R  no,  gud.  —  447  R  yhe,  seuen  maisters.  —  448  R  all,  world  most,  pryse.  — 
449  R  Bi  yhowr  witt,  yhe.  —  451  R  yhour  wysdome. 


16  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

Bifor  mi  fader,  Emperoure  of  Rome; 

And  sefin  I  sal  speke  for  vs  all 

And  ger  oure  famen  al  doun  fall. 

f>an  sal  we  wele  venged  be  455 

Of  fam  fat  ordans  fus  for  me." 

f>an  spak  Maiskr  Bausillas, 
And  said  :  "  Son,  by  Saint  Nicholas, 
A  dai  for  fe  I  sal  be  bowne." 

"And  I  anofer,"  said  Maister  Caton.  460 

And  al  halely  to  him  fai  hight 
For  to  saue  him  at  faire  might 
Fra  alkin  shame  and  velany. 
And  he  said :  "  Maisters,  gramercy ; 
I  mun  suffer  ful  grete  turmentes,  465 

Bot  if  je  haue  gude  argumentes." 

After  fir  wordes  rase  J>ai  all 
And  went  ogayn  into  fe  hall. 
It  was  wele  passed  of  fe  night;     [28  a] 
Vnto  bed  al  went  fai  right.  470 

J>e  childes  thoght  was  euer  in  one 
How  fat  him  was  best  to  done; 
And  how  he  sold  be  war  and  wise 
And  answer  noght  fe  Emp<fnce. 
For  wele  he  wist  and  vnderstode  475 

J>at  scho  wald  him  litel  gude. 

When  day  was  cumen  and  nyght  gane, 
f>e  maisters  rase  ful  sone  ilkane; 
f>ai  cled  fe  childe  in  riche  wede 
And  horsed  him  on  a  gude  stede,  480 

And  forth  fai  went  fra  fat  gardyne 
J>at  was  kald  Boys  Saynt  Martine. 

452  R  my,  Emp«?rour.  —  453  R  sithen,  sail.  —  454  R  our,  all  doune.  —  455  R  sail. 

—  457  R  Bansillas.  —  458  R  bi. —  459  R  day,  sail,  boune.  —  460  R  ane  oth<?r, 
Catoune.  —  461  R  all.  —  462  R  )>air  myght.  —  463  R  ffro  alkyn  schame,  vilany. 

—  465  R  mon,  full  gret  turment.  —  466  R  yhe,  gud  argument.  —  467  R  Ef ter,  rayse. 

—  469  R  nyght.  —  470  R  all,  ryght.  —  473  R  suld,  wyse.  —  474  R  Emp^nse.  — 
476  R  lytell.  —  477  R  comen.  —  478  R  raise  full.  — 479  R  child,  ryche.  —  480  R 
gud.  —  481  R  f urth,  fro.  —  482  R  cald,  saint  Martyne. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES 


J>ai  broght  pe  childe  furth  in  his  way; 
And  at  pain;  parting  gan  pai  pray 
f>at  he  sold  speke  wordes  nane 
Til  seuyn  dayes  war  cuwmen  #;z</gane 
"f>an  sal  pou  pas  fro  al  pi  payne." 
When  pis  was  said,  pai  turned  ogayn. 
J>e  messagers  and  pe  childe  hende 
Toward  pe  court  gan  pai  wende. 

When  pe  .Emperiz  herd  tipand 
J>at  pe  childe  was  nerc  cumand, 
A  desterer  sone  gert  sho  dyght, 
And  keped  him  with  many  a  knyght. 
He  louted  hir  and  pam  ilkane, 
Bot  wordes  wald  he  speke  right  nane. 
In  court  pai  come  within  a  while. 
J>e  Emp<frice  thoght  euer  on  gile ; 
Sho  toke  pe  child  pat  was  so  hende, 
And  vnto  chamber  gan  pai  wende ; 
And  doun  sho  set  him  on  hir  bed ; 
And  Florentine  was  ful  adred. 
Sho  said  :    "  f>ou  ert  of  mekil  prise, 
Hende  and  curtays,  war  and  wise ; 
And  sen  pi  fader  has  wedded  me, 
Gude  reson  es  pat  I  luf  pe ; 
And  so  I  do,  pe  soth  to  say, 
And  parfore,  paramore,  I  pe  pray 
J>at  pou  me  kys  and  luf  me, 
And,  sir,  pi  soiet  sal  I  be. 
Vnto  pe,  sir,  so  God  me  rede, 
Haue  I  keped  my  maydenhed." 

Sho  toke  pe  childe  obout  pe  hals, 


485 


490 


495 


500 


505 


483  R  child.  —  484  R  >air  partyng.  —  485  R  suld.  —  486  R  Till  seuen  days, 
comen.  —  487  R  sail,  pass,  all.  —  488  R  o  gayne.  —  489  R  messang<?rs,  child.  — 
491  R  Emp^rice,  tythand.  —  492  R  child,  comand.  —  493  R  scho.  —  495  R  lowted. 

—  496  R  ryght.  —  498  R  gyle.  —  499  R  Scho,  MS,  an  erasure,  doubtless  of  an  e, 
after  child. —  500  R  chaumbre.  —  501  .ffdoune  scho  sett.  —  502  R  fflorentyne,  full. 

—  503  R  Scho,  mykell  pryse.  —  504  R  curtase,  wyse.  —  506  R  Gud.  —  508  R  J?arfor 
paramowre. —  510  R  soiett  sail.  —  512  R  maydenhede.  —  513  R  Scho,  child. 


1 8  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

Bot  al  fat  fageing  was  ful  fals. 

J>e  childe  made  ay  ful  heuy  chere,  515 

And  wald  noght  speke  on  no  maner<?;     [28  b] 

He  turned  oway  with  al  his  might. 

And  als  sone  fan  fe  lady  bryght 

Saw  sho  might  noght  turn  his  mode ; 

And  for  wa  sho  was  nere  wode.  520 

"Sir,"  sho  said,  "what  ayles  fe? 

Whi  wiltou  noght  speke  with  me, 

And  al  fi  wil,  syr,  wil  I  do?" 

He  answerd  nothing  hir  vnto. 

Sho  saw  fir  gaudes  might  noght  gain,  525 

J>arfor<?  sho  toke  anof er  trayn  : 
Sho  lete  als  sho  war  wode  for  wrath, 
And  sone  sho  rafe  eu^-ilka  klath, 
And  als  fe  forors  of  ermyne, 

And  couercheues  of  silk  gude  and  fyne.  530 

Hir  smok  also  sone  rafe  sho  it, 
Als  sho  wer  wode  out  of  hir  wit. 
Hir  fair<?  hare  sho  al  to-drogh ; 
And  sari  noys  sho  made  inogh. 
Sho  al  to-raced  hir  vesage,  535 

And  cried  "  Harrow !  "  in  grete  rage.  * 

J>e  EmpmDure  was  in  fe  hall, 
Carpand  with  his  knightes  all ; 
And  when  fai  herd  slike  nois  and  cri, 
Fast  to  chamber  gan  fai  hy.  540 

f>ai  fand  f  e  Emp^rice  al  to-rent ; 
Hir  har<?,  hir  face  was  fouly  shent. 
J>e  Empm)ure  was  ful  euil  payd, 

514  R  all,  fageyng,  full.  —  515  R  child,  full.  —  516  J?  na.  —  517  JP  all,  myght.  — 
519  R  scho. —  520  R  scho.  —  521  R  scho. —  522  R  will  J>ou. —  523  R  all,  will  sir 
will.  —  525  R  Scho,  hir  instead  of\>\t,  myght,  gayne.  —  526  R  J>arfor  scho  take  ane 
other  trayne.  —  527  R  Scho,  scho,  wrathe. —  528  R  scho,  of  after  rafe  deleted, 
clathe.  —  529  R  furres.  —  530  R  couerches,  sylk  gud. —  531  R  all  so,  scho  itt.— 
532  R  schowar,  witt.  —  533  R  fair,  scho  all  to  droghe.  —  534  R  sary,  scho,  I  noghe. 
—  535  R  Scho  all  to,  visage.  — 536  R  cryed,  gret.  —  537  R  Emp^rour.  — 538  R 
knyghtes.  —  539  R  swilk  noys,  cry.  —  540  R  chaumber.  —  541  R  all  to.  —  542  R 
his  face,  foully  schent.  —  543  R  empm>ur,  full  euell. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  19 

And  vnto  hir  ful  sone  he  said : 

"  Tel  me  wha  did  fis  dishonowr<?,  545 

And  sertes  it  sal  be  boght  ful  soure." 

"J>is  deuil,"  sho  said,   "pat  here  standes 

Has  me  shent  Jms  with  his  handes ; 

Had  ge  noght  titter  cumen  me  till, 

With  me  he  had  done  al  his  will.  550 

J>us  he  haues  me  al  to-rent, 

Mi  body  for  he  wolde  haue  shent. 

He  was  neuer  cumen,  sir,  of  fi  blode ; 

Ger  bind  him  fast,  for  he  es  wode. 

He  es  a  deuil,  withowten  drede;  555 

J>arfor<?  to  prison  gers  him  lede. 

I  tine  mi  wit,  fat  wele  wit  je, 

And  I  lenger  opon  hym  se." 

J>an  hastily  fe  Empm^wre 

Cald  vnto  his  turmentoure,  560 

And  bad  fe  traitur  sold  als  sone 
Be  nakend  and  in  preson  done, 
And  beten  als  with  skowrges  sanr,      [28  c] 
For  his  misdedis  and  his  larc: 

"And  ger  him  speke  if  fat  fou  may;  565 

Hen?  says  he  nowper  ga  ne  nay. 
Bot  if  he  speke,  by  God  in  heuyn, 
I  sal  ger  sla  his  Maisters  Seuyn." 

Alsone  fan  fe  turmentoure 

Led  fe  childe  fra  fe  Empm)wr<?  570 

Hastily  fe  prison  vntill. 
f>at  lyked  many  a  man  ful  ill. 
f>e  knyghtes  asked  whi  it  was ; 
f>e  turmentoure  tald  fam  fe  case. 

544  R  full,  sayd.  —  545  R  Tell,  be  after  did,  dishonoure.  —  546  R  sail,  full.  — 
547  R  deuell  scho.  —  548  R  schent. —  549  R  yhe,  tytter  comen,  tyll.  —  550  R  all. 
—  551  R  all.  —  552  R  wald,  schent.  —  553  R  comen.  —  554  R  bynd.  —  555  R  deuell, 
w/'t£  outen. —  556  R  J?arfor.  —  557  R  tyne  my  witt,  witt  yhe.  —  558  R  lengar, 
him.  —  559  R  Emperoure.  —  561  R  traytur  suld.  —  562  R  nakkend.  —  563  R 
skourges.  —  564  R  mysdedes.  —  566  R  nouther  yha.  —  567  R  bi,  heuen.  —  568  R 
sail,  seuen.  —  570  R  child  fro,  Empm>ure.  —  571  R  vntyll.  —  572  R  full. 


20  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

f>ai  bad  pe  child  sold  haue  na  skath,  575 

Bot  plente  of  mete  and  drink  bath. 

J?e  turmentouft?  said:  "  Lattes  me  allane ; 

Mete  ne  drink  sal  him  want  nane." 

pan  pe  knightes  of  grete  valun? 

Went  tite  vnto  fe  Empm)wre;  580 

J?ai  blamed  him  for  fat  owtrage 

Withowten  cownsail  of  his  barn  age. 

J>ai  praied  him  to  ses  of  his  sorow, 

And  gif  J>e  childe  respite  til  ]>e  morow, 

And  J>an  ger  sla  him,  or  els  bren,  585 

By  kownsail  of  his  wisest  men. 

J>at  dai  J?e  Emperoure  spared  his  son, 

And  bad  no  harm  ]?ai  sold  him  done ; 

Bot  gif  him  mete  and  drink  at  will, 

And  hald  him  so  in  presown  still.  590 

Ful  wrath  he  was,  J>e  soth  to  say, 

Bot  pus  his  son  was  saued  J>at  day, 


Hen?  Bigins  f>e  Fyrst   Prices. 

On  euyn  late  fe  Emparowr<? 
Was  broght  to  bed  with  grete  honeore. 
J>e  Emp^rice,  his  bed-fere,  595 

Sighed  and  made  sary  chere. 
J>e  Emperoure  hir  asked  why, 
And  sho  answerd  ful  drerily, 
And  said :  "  Sertes,  ]?e  soth  I  se, 
J?at  into  cuntre  cuwen  es  he  600 

J>at  sal  in  fine  old  age 

575  R  suld,  no  skathe.  —  576  R  drynk  bathe.  —  578  R  na  drynk  sail.— 
579  R  knyghtes,  gret  valoure,  MS.  of  above  line. —  580  R  tyte,  empm>ure. — 
581  R  outrage. —  582  R  viith  outen  counsail. —  583  R  prayd,  sese. —  584  R  gyf, 
child  respyte  till  to  morow. —  585  R  ger  after  And  deleted.  —  586  R  Bi  counsail. 

—  587  R  day,  sone.  —  588  R  harme,  suld.  —  589  R  gyf,  drynk.  —  590  R  preson 
styll.  —  591    R  ffull,  tyll  for  to.  —  Heading  R  bygyns,  process.  —  593   R  euen, 
Emp^oure.  —  594  MS.  e  of  honeon? above  the  line,  R  gret  honowre.  —  596  R  Syghed. 

—  597  R  Emp^rour,  whi.  —  598  R  scho,  full.  —  600  R  centre  comen.  —  601  R  sail. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  21 

Reue  pe  al  )>ine  heritage." 

J>e  Empmjwre  said:  "Wha  sold  so  done?" 

"Sir,"  sho  said,  "pi  cursed  son." 

He  said:  "Dame,  lat  slike  wordes  be,  605 

For  pat  dai  sal  pou  neuer  se 

J>at  he  sal  haue  any  myght 

For  to  do  me  any  vnryght."     [28  d] 

"iis,  sir,"  sho  said,  "pat  dar  I  lay, 

For  pou  saued  pi  son  pis  day,  610 

Als  wele  sal  it  like  to  pe 

Als  it  did  pe  pine-appel  tre 

Of  his  ymp  pat  he  forth  broght." 

J>e  Empm)ure  pan  him  bithoght : 

"Dame,"  he  said,  "I  prai  pe,  615 

How  was  it  of  pe  pine-appel  tre  ? " 

And  of  his  [ymp],  how  it  byfell, 

f>e  EmpericQ  bigan  to  tell. 

r Story  1. 1 
L  Arbor.  J 

Here  Bygins  J>e  First  Tale  of  pe  Whyfe. 

Scho  said :  "  Sir,  whilu*#  in  pis  town 
Wond  a  man  of  grete  renown.  620 

He  had  ordaynd  in  his  palays 
A  faire  gardine,  pe  romance  sais. 
paran  was  mani  trese  grouand 
Als  fair<?  als  on  erth  might  stand. 
Omang  al  oper,  I  tel  pe,  625 

pare  stode  a  faire  pine-appel  tre, 
With  faire  bowes  and  leues  klene ; 
And  vnder  it  was  an  herber  grene. 
Vnder  pat  tre  was  his  playing 
In  time  of  solace  and  of  resting.  630 

602  R  all,  herytage.  —  603  R  Emp^roure,  suld  sa.  —  604  R  scho  sayd,  sone.  — 
605  R  slyke.  —  606  R  day  sail.  —  607  R  sail.  —  609  R  Yhis,  scho.  —  61 1  R  sail, 
lyke.  —  612  R  dyd,  pyne  appeltre.  —  617  MS.  om.  ymp,  R  bi  fell.  —  618  R  \>  of  |>e 
illegible.  —  Heading  R  bigyns,  wyfe.  —  619  R  whilom,  toune.  —  620  R  gret  renoune. 

—  621  R  ordaind.  —  622  R  fair  gardyn,  says.  —  623  R  many.  —  624  R  fair,  myght. 

—  625  R  all,  tell.  —  626  R  fayre  pyne,  Appeltre.  —  627  R  fair,  clene. —  628  R  om. 
it,  R  ane.  — 630  R  tyme,  restyng;  R.  om.  second  of. 


22  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

"  So  it  bifel  opon  a  day 
Fra  hame  fe  burias  toke  fe  way 
For  marchandise  and  chafare  dere. 
He  dwelt  out  mar*  fan  half  a  gere; 
And  efter  sone,  when  J>at  he  might,  635 

Hame  he  toke  J>e  wai  ful  right. 
He  went  sone  on  fat  ofer  day 
Into  his  gardine  him  to  play, 
And  to  loke  his  pine-appel  tre ; 
And  far  bisid  sone  gan  he  se  640 

A  litel  ymp  ]>at  was  noght  lang; 
And  out  of  fe  tre  rote  it  sprang. 
f»e  burgase  cald  his  gardinere, 
And  said  :  *  Belamy,  go  hen? ; 

Sese  fou  fi[s]  ymp  fat  standes  hereby?  645 

Can  fou  me  tel  encheson  why 
It  waxes  na  more  sen  it  bigan  ? ' 
*§a,  sir,'  he  said,  'I  trow  I  kan ; 
J>is  gret  bogh  and  ofer  ma 

Haldes  fe  son  oway  farfra,  650 

So  fat  it  mai  noght  wele  thriue.' 
J>e  burias  bad  klimb  vp  bilyue 
And  hak  oway  fe  grete  bogh,     [29  a] 
And  lat  fe  ymp  haue  son  inogh. 
J>e  gardener  biliue  was  boun ;  655 

J>e  grete  bogh  he  hagged  down. 

"  J>e  burias  thoght  it  was  wele  done ; 
He  bad  hag  of  anofer  sone. 
f>e  gardeners  did  als  he  him  bad; 
He  haged  anofer  with  hert  glad.  660 

J>are  fai  leued  nonkins  thing 

631  R  bi  fell.  —  633  R  marchandyse.  —  634  R  yhere.  —  635  R  myght.  — 
636  R  way  full  ryght.  —  637  R  }>e  tother.  —  638  R  gardyne.  —  639  R  pyne  appeltre. 

—  640  R  }>are  be  syde. —  641  R  lytell.  —  643  R  buriase,  gardynere.  —  645  MS.  bi. 

—  646  R  tell.  —  647  R  no  more.  —  648  R  Yha.  —  651  R  may,  thryue.  —  652  R 
buriase,  clymb.  —  653  R  hag,  gret.  —  655  R  gardinere  bi  lyue,  boune.  —  656  R  gret, 
haged   doune.  —  657  R  buriase.  —  658  R  ane  other.  —  659  R  gardinere  dyd. — • 
660  R  hagged  ane  other  of  -with.  —  661  R  nonekyns. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  23 

J>at  sold  let  fe  ymp  to  spring. 

J>e  aid  tre  had  his  bewte  lorn 

When  his  twa  bowes  owai  war  shorn. 

J>e  ymp  had  rowm,  and  wex  ful  fast ;  665 

J>e  aid  tre  dried  at  fe  last. 

And  fat  was  no  f  erly,  godote ; 

For  }>e  ymp  standes  on  fe  maister  rote. 

"J>e  burias  come  anofer  day 

Into  fat  place  him  for  to  play.  670 

J>e  gong  ymp  stode  grene  \n  fat  stede, 
And  fe  aid  tre  was  al  dede. 
He  cald  his  gardener  to  him  fare, 
And  asked  if  fe  aid  tre  ded  war*?. 
*^a,  sir/  he  said,  'ded  es  it  right;  675 

f>e  jong  ymp  haues  al  fe  might. 
And  for  fe  aid  [tre]  has  so  bene  hewid, 
J>arfor<?  es  it  al  bishrewed.' 
J>e  burias  said :  '  Sen  it  es  ded, 

Lat  it  noght  ocupi  fis  stede.  680 

Fel  it  doun  or  fou  do  dede, 
J>at  fe  gong  ymp  faire  may  sprede.' 
"Sir,"  sho  said,  "}>us  was  fe  tre 
Ded  als  I  haue  tald  to  fe, 

And  hewen  done  and  worthed  to  noght,  685 

For  fe  ymp  fat  it  forth  broght. 
And,  sir,"  sho  said,  "  so  mot  I  the, 
.      J>e  aid  tre  bitakens  f e ; 

J>e  ymp  vnto  fi  son  so  wode, 

J>at  sprongen  es  out  of  fi  blode.  690 

Sone  he  sal  slike  power  haue, 

He  bese  fi  maistdr  and  fou  his  knaue; 

And  so  es  right,  withowten  fail. 

662  R  suld  lett,  spryng.  —  663  R  lorne.  —  664  R  oway,  schorne.  —  665  R  rowme, 
full.  —  666  R  dryed.  —  668  R  in.  —  669  R  buriase  com  ane  other.  —  67 1  R  yhong.  — 
672  R  all. — 673  R  gardinere.  —  675  R  Yha,  ryght.  —  676^  yhong,  all,  myght. 

—  677  MS.  om.  tre,  R  hewed.  —  678  R  >arfor,  all  bi  schrewed.  —  679  R  buriase.  — 
680  R  occupy,  sted.  — 681  R  ffell,  doune.  —  682  R  yhong,  fair.  —  683  R  scho. 

—  685  R  doune.  —  687  R  scho.  —  691  R  sail  slyke.  —  693  R  ryght  w*'t£outen  fayle. 


24  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

Sen  }>ou  wil  trow  na  gude  co/zsail, 

J>arfore  so  sal  bifal  of  J>e  695 

Als  did  of  J>e  pine-appel  tre." 

"  Sertes,  dame,"  said  fe  Empm>ure, 
"J>at  war  a  fowl  misauenture; 
Bot  sertes  it  sal  noght  swa, 

Whils  I  haue  might  to  ride  and  ga.     [29  b]          700 
And,  dame,  I  hete  ]>e  sekerly, 
He  sal  be  ded  tomorn  arly." 
And  Jmsgat  passed  ouer  J>at  nyght. 
J>e  first  tale  Jms  endes  right. 


Here  Bygins   f>e   Secund  Prices. 

f>e  Empm>wre  rase  on  ]>e  morn,  705 

And  gert  feche  his  son  him  biforn. 
He  bad  bilyue  )>ai  sold  him  hang 
On  high  galows  and  on  strang. 
J>e  knightes  and  al  fe  menge 

For  )>e  childe  had  grete  pete,  710 

J>at  he  sold  to  de.d  be  dight 
Al  with  wrang  and  noght  with  right. 
J>an  come  rideand  Maistev  Bausillas 
J>at  an  of  pe  childes  maisters  was. 
He  saw  fe  childe  so  hard  bistad;  715 

For  him  his  hert  was  vnglad. 
Toward  }>e  galows  J?e  child  gan  fare.          . 
J>e  Maister  went  to  court  with  care. 
When  he  come  at  J>e  palays  gate, 
He  lighted  and  leuid  his  hors  pareat;  720 

And  fast  he  hied  into  J>e  hall, 


694  R  will,  gud  counsaile.  —  695  R  barfor,  sail  bi  fall.  —  696  R  pyne  appel  tre. 

—  698  R  foule  mysauentoure.  —  699  R  sail,  MS.  om.  be.  —  700  R  myght,  ryde.  — 
701  R  sykerly.  —  702   R  sail,   arely.  —  703  R  hisgate.  —  704  R  fyrst,  ryght.— 
Heading  R  bygyns,  process.  —  705  R  emp^rour  rays.  —  707  R  suld.  —  708  R  hegh. 

—  709  R  knyghtes,  all,  meneyhe.  —  710^  child,  gret.  —  711  R  suld,  dyght. — 712  R 
All,  ryght.  —  713  R  rydeand,  Bansillas.  —  714  R  ane.  —  715  R  child.  —  719  R 
yhate.  —  720  R  lyghted,  leued,  ]>are  ate.  —  721  R  hyed. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  25 

Bifor^  ]>e  ILmperoure  and  ]>e  knightes  all. 

He  hailsed  }>e  Emperoure  sone  sertayn, 

And  greuosly  he  loked  ogayne. 

He  said :  "  God  gif  pe  euil  fyne  725 

For  J?e  techeing  of  son  myne." 

"  Syr,"  said  Maister  Bausillas, 
"  Whi  er  je  greued  and  for  what  case  ? 
§e  war  won  to  be  meke  and  milde, 
And  now  with  wrang  will  sla  pi  childe."  730 

J>an  answerd  ]?e  Empm>wr<?: 
"J>ou  sal  be  hanged,  loseniowre;   • 
Mi  son  vnto  gow  I  bitoke 
For  to  lere  hym  on  pe  boke ; 

^e  haue  him  teched  on  wrang  manenr;  735 

And  fat  je  sal  aby  ful  der<?. 
§e  haue  reft  my  son  his  speche; 
J>e  deuil  of  hel  I  jow  biteche! 
And  he  wald  haue  forlayn  my  wif ; 
J>arfor<?  sal  na  man  saue  his  lyfe;  740 

And  to  ded  sal  ge  al  be  done, 
f>at  better  sold  haue  teched  my  son." 

"Sir,"  said  Maister  Bausillas, 
"J>at  war  grete  wrang,  to  safe  joure  grace. 
Al  if  Jri  son  had  wrethed  pi  wife,      [29  c]  745 

Wald  pou  parfore  lose  his  lyfe  ? " 

He  said :  "I  fand  my  wife  al  rent, 
Hir  hare  and  hir  face  fowly  shent ; 
And  whoso  es  funden  hand-haueing, 
It  es  no  nede  of  witnesing."  750 

J>e  maister  said :  "  Sir,  no  man  sale 


722  R  Bifor,  Empm>ur,  knyghtes.  —  723  R  Empmmr.  —  725  R  gyf,  euell.  — 
726  R  techyng.  —  727  R  Sir,  Bansillas.  —  728  R  yhe.  —  729  R  Yhe,  myld. — 
730  R  child.  —  731  R  Emp^oure.  —  732  R  sail,  losenioure.  —  733  R  yhow,  betoke. 
—  734  R  him,  buke.  —  735  R  Yhe.  —  736  R  yhe  sail,  full.  —  737  R  Yhe.  —  738  R 
deuell,  hell,  yhow  be  teche.  —  739  R  forlayne,  wyfe.  —  740  R  }>arfor  sail  no. — 
741  R  sail  yhe  all  bi.  —  742  R  suld,  sone.  —  743  R  Bansillas.  —  744  R  gret,  saue 
yhour.  —  745  R  All,  wyfe.  —  746  R  J?arfor.  —  747  R  all.  —  748  R  foully  schent,  — 
749  R  fonden  hand  haueyng.  —  750  R  witnesyng, 


26  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

Sadly  trow  a  stepmoders  tale; 

For  fairc  bolt  es  ful  sone  shot, 

Titter  to  ill  fan  til  gude  note. 

If  fou  for  hir  fi  son  so  slase,  755 

On  fe  mu«  bifall  swilk  a  case 

Als  did  vntil  a  gentil  knight 

For  his  grehund  fat  was  wight." 

J>e  Emp<?rowr<?  fat  tale  gan  frayn, 

And  fe  maister  sayd  ogayn :  760 

"Sir,  whils  fat  I  tel  my  tale 

gowr<?  son  might  suffer  mekil  bale ; 

J?an  war  my  trauail  al  forlorn. 

J>arfor<?  do  bring  him  vs  biforn 

And  respite  him  for  mi  saying,  765 

And  ge  sal  her<?  a  wonder  thing." 

f>e  Emperome  said:  "Respite  I  him  grant." 

And  hastily  went  a  sergant, 

And  broght  fe  child  into  fe  hall 

Biforn  his  fader  and  fe  knightes  all.  .  770 

He  lowted  his  fader  and  fam  ilkane, 

Bot  wordes  wald  he  speke  nane. 

J>e  Empm)ure  said:  "  Maister  Bawsillas, 

Tel  now  forth  fi  ferly  case." 

TStory  II.-I 
L  Canis.  J 

J>e  Secund  Tale,  of  Maist<?r  Bausillas. 

He  said :  "  Sir,  in  fis  same  cete,  775 

On  a  day  of  fe  Trinite, 
Was  ordand  to  be  a  bowrdice 
Of  nobil  knightes  of  mekil  prise. 
In  a  medow  fai  made  faire  play. 

753  R  >air,  full,  schote.  —  754  R  till  gud.  —  755  R  \>\  son  for  hir.  —  756  R  mon 
fall.  —  757  R  vntyll,  gentell  knyght.  —  758  R,  A,  E  Of  instead  of  ¥  or. —  759  R 
Emp^rour,  frayne.  —  760  R  said  ogayne.  —  761  R  tell.  —  762  R  Yhowr,  myght, 
mykell.  —  763  R  all  for  lorne.  —  764  R  J>arfor,  bryng,  bi  forne.  —  765  R  respyte, 
my.  —  766  R  yhe  sail.  —  767  R  Emp^rour,  respyte,  graunt.  —  768  R  sergeaunt.  — 
769  R  vn  to.  —  770  R  Bi  for,  knyghtes.  —  773  R  Empm>ur,  Bansillas.  —  774^ 
Tell,  furth.  —  Heading  R  Bansillas.  —  777  R  ordaynd,  bourdyse.  —  778  R  noble 
knyghtes,  mykell  pryse.  —  779  R  mydow,  >air. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  27 

And  ]>us  bifel  on  pat  same  day,  780 

J>e  knight  pat  I  of  tel  pis  stownde, 

Had  at  hame  a  fair<?  grehownde. 

Biside  pe  medow  was  his  manere, 

Al  vmclosed  with  a  reuere. 

Of  aid  werk  was  ilka  wall,  785 

Ful  of  creuices  and  holes  ouer  all. 

J>e  knight  had  wed  a  faire  lady ; 

A  faire  childe  sho  haued  him  by. 

f>ar<?  war  thre  norices  it  to  jeme; 

An  gaf  at  sowke,  als  it  wald  seme;     [29  d]          790 

J>e  toper  wasshes  it  and  bathes, 

Makes  pe  bed,  and  dons  pe  clathes; 

J>e  thrid  wasshes  pe  shetes  oft, 

And  rokkes  it  on  slepe  soft. 

"  J>is  grehund  pat  I  ar^  of  talde  795 

Was  wonder  wight  and  parto  balde; 
And  parto  was  he  so  wele  taght, 
J>e  knight  wald  gif  him  for  none  aght. 
J>e  knight  was  armed  in  nobil  wede, 
And  sone  lepe  vp  on  his  stede  800 

With  sheld  on  sholder  and  shaft  in  hand 
To  iust  with  knightes  of  pe  land. 
Sone  he  come  into  pe  feld. 
f>e  lady  lay  euer  and  byhelde, 

Vp  in  pe  kastell  on  a  vice,  805 

Whare  sho  might  se  pe  faire  bourdice. 
J>e  norices  said  pat  pai  wald  ga 
For  to  se  pe  gamyn  alswa; 
And  al  thre  pai  went  out  of  pe  hall 

780  R  bi  fell.  —  781  R  knyght,  tell,  stounde.  —  782  R  fair  grehounde.  —  783  R 
Bisyde,  mydow.  —  784  R  All,  ryuere.  —  786  R  ffull,  creuyces.  —  787  R  knyght, 
fair.  —  788  R  fair  child  scho.  —  789  R  bar,  tre  noryssches,  yheme.  —  790  R  Ane, 
souke.  —  791  R  be  \pr  bat]  obliterated,  other  wesches.  —  793  R  thred  wesches. — 
795  R  grehound,  tald.  —  796^  bare  to  bald.  —  797  R  bare  to. —  798  R  knyght, 
gyf.  —  799  R  knyght,  noble.  —  801  R  scheld,  schulder,  schaft.  —  802  R  knyghtes. 
—  803  R  felde.— 804  R  bi  helde.  — 805  R  castell,  vyce.  — 806  R  scho  myght, 
.fair  bourdyse.  —  807  R  noryces.  —  808  R  gamen  all  swa.  —  809  R  all  tre,  MS.  iii 
above  line,  perhaps  in  later  hand. 


28  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

And  set  fe  credil  vnder  a  wall.  810 

J>e  childe  parkin  slepand  it  lay. 

Al  thre  fai  went  to  se  fe  play 

At  a  praie  place  bisyde. 

And  in  fat  time  f  us  gan  bitide : 

"A  nedder  was  norist  in  fe  wall,  815 

And  herd  fe  noys  of  riding  all. 
He  loked  out  to  se  fat  wonder, 
And  saw  fe  childe  stand  him  vnder. 
Vnto  }>e  erth  he  went  onane ; 

J>e  childe  he  hopid  to  haue  slane.  820 

J>e  grehund  wanders  far<?obout, 
And  sese  how  fe  nedder  crepis  out; 
And  sone  fan  gan  he  him  asail, 
And  toke  him  ful  tite  bi  fe  tayl. 
^4«^/  sone  fe  nedder  bate  him  sare,  825 

J>at  he  durst  hald  him  na  mare. 
Out  of  his  mowth  when  he  was  gane, 
Vnto  fe  credel  he  crepis  onane; 
He  fanded  fast  fe  childe  to  styng. 
J>e  grehund  ogayn  to  him  gan  flyng;  830 

And  sone  he  hentes  [him]  by  fe  bak, 
And  al  obout  his  eres  gan  shak. 
Bitwix  fe  nedder  and  fe  grehownd 
f>e  credil  weltered  on  fe  grownd 
Vp  so  down  with  faire  fyghting,  835 

So  fat  fe  childe  lay  grouelyng. 
J>e  ioure  stulpes  held  vp  fe  childe,     [30  a] 
J>at  he  was  nowfer  hurt  ne  filde. 
J>e  nedder  bate  fe  grehund  sare, 


810  R  sett,  credell.  — 811  R  child.  — 812  R  All  tre.  —  813  R  besyde.  — 814  R 
tyme,  be  tyde.  —  815  R  noryst.  —  816  R  rydeyng.  —  818  R  child.  —  820  R  child, 
hoped.  —  821  R  grehound  wandres.  —  822  R  crepes. — 823  .#  assayle.  —  824  R  full 
tyte  be,  tayle.  —  826  R  no.  —  827  R  mouthe.  —  828  R  credell,  crepes. — 829  R 
fandes,  child.  —  830  R  grehound.  —  831  MS.  om.  him,  R  bi.  —  832  R  all  o  bout, 
schak.  —  833  R  grehound.  —  834  R  credell  welterd,  ground.  —  835  R  Vp  sa  doune, 
J>air  fyghtyng.  —  836  R  child.  —  837  R  four  stolpes,  child.  —  838  R  nouther,  • 
fyld.  —  839  R  grehound. 


THE  SEVEN   SAGES  29 

Buth  bak  and  side  and  eueraywhare.  840 

f>e  grehund  bledes,  J>e  nedder  alswa; 
Grete  batail  was  bitwix  J>am  twa. 

"At  ]?e  last  J>e  grehund  J>e  neder  slogh, 
And  al  to  peces  he  hym  drogh. 
By  pai  had  done,  withouten  dout,  845 

Al  was  blody  pam  obout. 
When  J>e  bourdice  was  broght  til  ende, 
f>e  knightes  wald  no  lenger  lende, 
Bot  ilka  man  his  hernayse  hent, 
And  hastily  hame  er  J?ai  went.  850 

J>e  norices  went  to  hall  in  hy; 
And  ful  sone  J>ai  war  sary : 
J>e  credel  with  }>e  childe  J»ai  fand ; 
Turned  on  fe  stulpes  J>ai  saw  it  stand. 
f>ai  wend  }>e  childe  wan?  ded  for  ay,  855 

J>arfore  ]?ai  luked  noght  how  it  lay; 
Al  obout  pare  saw  fai  blode. 
J>ai  had  slike  wa  }>ai  wex  ner<?  wode; 
Grete  sorow  had  pai  in  }>aire  hert. 
J>e  grehund  cried,  so  euyl  him  smert;  860 

J>ai  wend  he  had  bene  wode  and  wilde, 
And  in  his  wodnes  slane  fe  childe. 
f>e  lady  oft  in  swown  gan  fall 
Euin  omang  J>am  in  ]?e  hall. 

'  Alias,'  sho  said,  « fat  I  was  born  !  865 

Es  my  faire  childe  now  ira  me  lorn?' 
J>e  knight  hame  come  in  fat  tyde, 
And  his  men  on  ilka  side ; 
He  sese  fam  wepe  and  sorow  make, 
Ilkane  for  )>e  childes  sake;  870 

840  R  Both,  syde.  —  841  R  grehound,  all  swa.  —  842  R  Gret.  —  843  R  grehound, 
nedder.  —  844  R  all,  him.  —  845  R  Be.  —  846  R  All.  —  847  R  bourdyse,  till.  — 
848  R  knyghtes,  langer. — 849  R  hernays.  —  851  R  noryces.  —  852  R  full. — 
853  R  credell,  child. —  855  R  child  war.  — 856  R  >arfor.  — 857  R  All.  — 858  R 
slyke.  —  859  R  Gret,  }>air.  —  860  R  grehound  cryed,  euell.  —  86 r  R  wyld.  —  862  R 
wodenes,  child.  —  863  R  swoun.  —  864  R  Euen.  —  865  R  scho  sayd.  —  866  R  fair 
child.  — 867  R  knyght.— 868  R  syde. 


30  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 


J?e  knight  J?am  asked  what  \&m  was, 
And  son  fai  tald  him  al  J>e  cas. 

"  J>e  lady  said  :  *  Sir,  J>i  grehunde 
Has  etin  oure  childe  on  ]?is  grownde. 
Bot  if  )>ou  reue  him  sone  his  life,  875 

Miself  I  sal  sla  with  my  knyfe.' 
J>e  knight  went  withowten  let  ; 
His  fayre  grehund  sone  him  met; 
He  ran  obout  both  here  and  J>are, 
And  berked  fast,  so  felde  he  sar<?  ;  880 

Of  rinyng  might  he  haue  no  rest: 
J>e  nedder  had  venuw  on  him  kest; 
He  fawned  his  lord  fast  with  his  tail. 
And  ]>e  knyght,  for  he  wald  noght  fayl,     [30  b] 
With  his  swerd  on  }>e  rig  he  hittes,  885 

And  sone  in  sender  he  him  slittes. 

"  J>e  grehund  es  ded  in  pat  place. 
f>e  knight  vnto  fe  credil  gase  ; 
Ay  lay  J?e  childe  fast  slepeand, 

And  pe  wemen  sare  wepeand.  890 

J>e  knyght  findes  ]>e  nedder  ded, 
In  peces  casten  in  fat  stede  ; 
f>e  credil  was  blody  and  J>e  grund 
Of  ]?e  nedder  and  ]>e  grehund. 

f>e  credel  es  turned,  J>e  child  es  quik;  895 

f>ar<?of  haue  fai  grete  ferlik. 
He  sese  )>e  hund  )>e  nedder  slogh; 
J?an  )>e  knight  had  sorow  inogh  ; 
Ful  grete  greuance  to  him  bigan. 
He  said  :  '  Sorow  cum  to  fat  man,  900 

871  R  knyght,  \>2J\for  >am,  \>a\.  for  \>a.m,  MS.  hat  <?/"what  obliterated.  —  872  R 
sone,  all,  case.  —  873  R  grehounde.  —  874  R  eten  our  child,  grounde.  —  875  R 
lyfe.  —  876  R  sail.  —  877  R  knyght,  witA  outen  lett.  —  878  R  fair  grehound,  mett. 
—  880  R  barkett,  feld.  —  88  1  R  rynyng  myght.  —  883  R  tayle.  —  884  R  fayle.  — 
885  R  ryg,  hyttes.  —  886  R  slyttes.  —  887  R  grehound.  —  888  R  knyght,  credell.  — 
889  R  child,  slepand.  —  890  R  wepand.  —  891  R  fyndes,  dede.  —  893  R  credell, 
bludy,  ground.  —  894  R  grehound.  —  895  R  credell,  quyk.  —  896  R  gret  ferlyk.  — 
898  R  knyght.  —  899  R  gret,  tyll/or  to,  bygan.  —  900  R  com. 


^SiT 


THE   SEVEN  SAGES  31 

And  sertanly  right  so  it  sale, 

J>at  euer  trowes  any  womans  tale. 

Alias,'  he  said,  *  for  so  did  I ! ' 

J>arwith  he  murned  and  made  grete  cri. 

He  kald  his  menge  les  and  mar<f,  905 

And  shewed  J?am  his  sorow  sare, 

How  his  childe  was  hale  and  sownde, 

And  slane  was  his  gude  grehound 

For  his  proves  and  his  gude  dede, 

And  also  for  his  wiues  rede.  910 

"'A!'  he  said,   'sen  I  J?e  slogh, 
I  miself  sal  by  J>e  wogh ; 
I  sal  ken  ofer  knightes,  sanz  fail, 
To  trow  noght  in  pairs  wife  counsail.' 
He  set  him  down  J?ar<?  in  J>at  thraw,  915 

,And  gert  a  grome  his  gere  of  draw; 
Al  his  gay  gere  he  gaf  him  fra, 
And  al  barfote  forth  gan  he  ga, 
Withowten  leue  of  wife  or  childe. 
He  went  into  )>e  woddes  wilde,  920 

And  to  J>e  forest  fra  al  men, 
]?at  nane  sold  of  his  sorow  ken. 
f>ars  tholed  he  mani  a  sari  stownde 
For  sorow  of  his  gude  grehownde ; 
And  for  )>e  kounsail  of  his  wife  925 

In  sorow  Jms  he  led  his  life. 

"  So  mai  fou  haue,  Sir  ~Emperoure, 
Sorow,  and  shame,  and  dishonours, 
To  sla  \\  son  ogains  ]?e  right, 
Als  ]>e  grehund  was  with  ]?e  knyght;  930 

901  R  sertainly  ryght.  —  902  R  wemens.  —  903  R  sayd,  dyd.  —  904  R  gret  cry. 

—  905  R  cald,  menyhe.  —  906  R  schewed.  —  907  R  child,  sounde.  —  908  R  gre- 
hounde.  —  909  R  gud.  —  9 1  o  R  all  so,  wy ves.  —  912  R  mi  self  sail  bi.  —  91 3  -#  sail, 
knyghtes,  faile.  —  914  R  >air,  counsaile.  —  915  R  sett,  doune.  —  917  R  All. — 
918^  all  bare  fotefurth.  —  919  Rvihh  outen,  child.  —  920  R  wild.  —  921  Riro  all. 

—  922  R  suld. —  923  R  many,  sary  stounde.  —  924  R  gud  grehounde. — 925  R 
counsail,  wyfe.  —  926  R  lyfe.  —  927  R  may.  —  928  R  schame.  —  929  R  ogayns, 
ryght.  —  930  R  grehound. 


32  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

For  he  was  fel  and  ouer  hastif,     [30  c] 
And  wroght  by  kounsayl  of  his  whif." 

J>e  Empm>ur^  [sware]  :  "  By  Ihesu  fre, 
So  sal  noght  bifal  to  me ! 

And,  maister,  I  hete  j>e  hardily,  935 

J>is  day  sal  noght  my  son  dy." 
"Sir,"  said  Maister  Bausillas, 
"  Trowes  my  kownsail  in  pis  cas ; 
For  al  J>is  werld  wil  ]>e  despise, 
To  trow  Jri  whif  and  leue  pe  wise."  940 

J>e  Empire  wre  said  :  "  J>at  war^  reson ; 
I  sal  noght  by  hir  kownsayl  done." 
J>e  childe  ogayn  to  prison  es  sent ; 
J>e  court  departes,  pe  maister  es  went. 


Here   Bigins  f>e  Thrid  Prices. 

When  al  war  parted  out  of  ]?at  place,  945 

J>e  Empm>ur£  to  chamber  gase. 
f>ar<?  he  findes  his  lady; 
Sho  sobbed  and  sighed  ful  sarily. 
"  Whannow,"  he  said,   "  dame,  ertow  wrath  ?  " 
"5a>  sertes,"  sho  sayd,  and  sware  grete  ath.          950 
He  said :  "  Dame,  tel  me  who  J>e  greues." 
Sho  said:  "J>at  lad  fat  ouer  lang  lifes, 
J>at  J>ou  calles  fine  owin  sone. 
To  euil  ded  might  he  be  done ! 

Bot  if  ]?ou  of  him  tak  vengance,  955 

Of  fe  sal  fal  swilk  a  chance, 
He  wil  J>e  bring  to  swilk  ending 

931  R  fell,  hastyfe.  —  932  R  counsail,  wyfe.  —  933  R  Emperour,  MS.  om.  sware, 
R  bi.  —  934  R  sail,  bi  fall  of  me.  —  936  R  sail.  —  937  R  Bansillas.  —  938  R  coun- 
sail, case. —  939  R  all,  world  will,  despyse.  —  940  R  wife,  wyse.  —  941  MS.  roson, 
R  Emp<?rowr,  war  resone.  —  942  R  sail,  be,  cownsail.  —  943  R  child.  —  Heading 
R  bigyns,  thred  process.  —  945  R  all.  —  946  R  Emperour,  chaumbre.  —  947  R 
fyndes.  —  948  R  Scho,  syghed  full  saryly.  —  949  R  wrathe.  —  950  R  Yha,  scho 
said,  gret  athe. — 951  R  tell.  —  952  R  Scho,  lyfes.  —  953^  awen.  —  954  R  euell, 
myght.  —  955  R  vengaunce. — 956  R  On  instead  of  Ql,  sail  fall,  chaunce.  —  957  A' 
will,  bryng,  endyng. 


THE    SEVEN   SAGES  33 

Als  fe  wilde  bare  had  with  clewing." 

]?e  Emp<?roure  said :  "  Dame,  tel  me  mare, 

How  it  was  of  fe  wild  bare."  960 

"Sir,"  sho  said,  "gladly  I  will, 

Bot  luke  je  tak  gude  tent  fartill." 

TStory  1 1 1.  "I 
L    Aper.     J 

J?e  Thrid  Tale  Tald  f»e  Wyfe. 

"  Sir,  a  litel  here  by  west 
Was  suwtime  a  faire  forest. 

A  wilde  bare  was  bred  farin  965 

Fra  a  gryse  til  a  grete  swyn. 
Na  man  dorst  walk  in  fat  forest 
For  ferdnes  of  fat  wilde  beste. 
In  middes  f  e  forest  was  a  playn ; 
pare  stode  a  tre  of  hawes  sertayn ;  970 

Faire  and  rede  and  ripe  fai  ware. 
J>eder  was  wont  f  e  wilde  bare ; 
Ilka  day  he  went  fartill, 
Vnder  fe  tre  to  ete  his  fill.     [30  d] 

"  Bifel  ]>us  in  fat  somer  tide,  975 

A  hird  gemed  bestes  par  biside ; 
A  beste  fra  him  was  raiked  oway. 
He  went  to  seke  it  al  a  day, 
And  by  fis  tre  of  hawes  he  come. 
Of  f  am  he  toke,  for  he  had  tome ;  980 

In  his  hode  he  gederd  fare; 
And  in  fat  cumes  fe  wilde  bare. 
When  fe  hird  him  saw,  he  was  ful  rad; 
He  might  noght  fle,  so  was  he  stad; 

958  R  wyld,  clowyng.  —  959  R  Emp^rour,  tell.  —  960  R  wyld.  —  961  R  scho. — 
962  R  yhe,  gud,  bare  tyll.  —  Heading  R  thred.  —  963  R  lytell,  bi.  —  964  R  som  tyme, 
fair.  —  965  R  wild,  bare  ine.  —  966  R  gryss  tyll,  gret  swyne.  —  967  R  No,  durst, 
foreste.  —  968  R  wild.  —  969  R  myddes,  playne.  —  970  R  sertayne.  —  971^  ffair, 
rype.  —  972  R  J?ider,  wyld. — 973  R  >are  tyll.  —  974  R  ett,  fyll.  —  975  R  Bi  fell, 
tyde.  —  976  R  hyrd  yhemed,  )>are  bi  syde.  —  977  R  fro,  rayked. — 978  R  all. — 
979  R  bi.  —  982  R  comes,  wild.  —  983  R  hyrd,  full.  —  984  R  myght. 


34  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

Into  }>e  tre  he  clymbes  on  high,  985 

And  ]>Q  bare  ]>an  come  him  negh. 

Hawes  findes  he  ferly  fone 

Forby  he  was  won  to  done; 

He  loked  vp  and  saw  ]>e  hird; 

Stil  he  sat  and  noght  he  stird.  990 

"  J>e  bare  for  tene  fan  whet  his  tuskes, 
And  wrot  ]>e  erth  vp  al  in  buskes ; 
Out  of  his  mowth  fe  fame  was  white. 
Vnto  J>e  tre  fast  gan  he  smite; 

J?e  tre  wagged  als  it  wald  fall ;  995 

J>an  was  ]?e  hirdman  ferd  at  all. 
Bot  sone  he  fand  a  medcine  gode : 
His  hand  he  put  tite  in  his  hode, 
And  kastes  down  fast  of  J>e  hawes. 
J>an  J>e  bare  on  J>e  grund  gnawes ;  1000 

And  when  his  wambe  was  filled  wele, 
On  his  knese  pan  gan  he  knele. 
And  son  pm:ayued  J>e  hirdman 
J>at  ]>e  bare  to  fall  bygan ; 

He  castes  him  down  hawes  inogh,  1005 

And  cumes  himself  down  by  a  bogh. 
By  ]>e  left  hand  he  hinges  )>are, 
And  with  f>e  right  hand  he  clowes  J>e  bare. 
Fast  he  rubed  him  on  \>e  rig, 
And  }>e  bare  bigins  to  lyg.  1010 

"  Sejnn  he  clowed  him  on  )>e  wambe, 
And  he  lay  doun   meke  als  a  lambe ; 
He  closed  his  yen  als  he  wald  slepe, 
And  f>e  hird  }>an  toke  gude  kepe: 
Preuely  he  drogh  his  knife,  1015 

985  R  klymbes,  hegh.  —  987  R  fyndes.  —  988  R  ffor  bi.  —  989  R  hiked,  hyrd.  — 
990  R  Styll,  satt,  styrd.  —  992  R  wrott,  all.  —  994  R  smyte.  —  996  R  hyrd  man.  — 
997  R  medsyn  gude.  —  998  R  tyte.  —  999  R  doune. —  1000  R  ground.  —  1001  P 
wamb,  fyld.  —  1003  R  sone  p^rsayued,  hyrd  man.  —  1004  R  bi  gan.  — 1005  R  kastes, 
doune. —  1006  R  comes,  doune  bi.  —  1007  R  Bi,  hynges.  —  1008  R  ryght,  klowes, 
R  om.  hand.  —  1009  R  rubbed,  ryg.  —  1010  R  bi  gyns.  —  ion  R  Sithen.  —  1012  R 
doune.  —  1013  R  eghen.  —  1014  R  hyrd,  gud.  —  1015  R  knyfe. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  35 

And  reft  J>e  wilde  bare  his  life. 

Al  if  he  wild  and  wighter  ware, 

J>e  hirdman  pus  has  slane  fe  bare; 

He  lete  him  ly  and  went  his  way. 

Sir  Empmmre,  by  fe  I  say,  1020 

f>ou  ert  J>e  bare,  }?e  maisters  fe  clowes ;    [31  a] 

With  J>aire  fals  tales,  fat  ]?ou  trowes, 

J>ai  sal  so  counsail  J?e  tf/z^/  rede 

Til  J?ai  haue  broght  ]>e  to  pi  ded." 

He  said :  "  I  wate  by  wham  pou  menes,  1025 

Bot  it  sal  noght  be  als  ]>ou  wenes ; 

For  sertes,  dame,  arly  tomorow 

Sal  my  son  be  ded,  with  sorow  !  " 

"Sir,"  sho  said,  "pan  dose  pou  right." 

J>us  pai  passed  ouer  }>at  night,  1030 

And  sleped  till  pe  dai  gan  spring. 

]?e  thrid  tale  pus  mase  ending. 


Here  Bygyns  f>e  Perth  Prices. 

J>e  day  es  cuwen,  pe  night  es  gane ; 
J>e  Emp^roure  rase  sone  onane. 

]?ai  opind  gates  of  pe  palays,  1035 

And  in  come  knightes  and  buriase. 
When  J>ai  war  cu#zen  into  fe  toure, 
Omang  }>am  come  J»e  Empm>wre. 
His  turmentoure  sone  gert  he  call, 
Bad  bring  his  son^  forth  into  hall ;  1040 

He  did  his  lordes  biding  biliue. 
Omang  |?am  fan  was  mekil  striue ; 

1016  R  wild,  lyfe.  —  1017  R  All,  wyld. —  1018  R  hyrd  man.  —  1020  R  Emp^rour. 

—  1022  R  bair.  —  1023  R  sail.  —  1024  R  Till,  dede.  —  1025  R  be.  —  1026  R  sail.  — 
1027  R  arely.  —  1028  R  Sail.  —  1029  R  scho,  ryght.  —  1030  R  nyght.  —  1031  R 
tyll,  day,  spryng.  —  1032  R  thred,  endyng.  —  Heading  MS.  nil,  R  bigyns,  process. 

—  1033  R  p  of  pe  illegible,  comen,  nyght.  — 1034  R  Empm>ur  rayse. —  1035  R 
opend    yhates. —  1036  R  knyghtes.  —  1037  R  comen.  —  1038  R  Emp<?roure. — 
1040  R  bryng,  furth   into   >e   hall.  — 1041   R  dyd,  bydyng  bi  lyue.  — 1042  R 
mykell  stryue. 


36       -  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

For  fe  Empm)ur<?  was  so  boun 

To  sla  his  son  ogayns  resoun ; 

He  wald  spare  him  for  nothing,  1045 

Bot  gert  do  of  al  his  clething, 

And  bad  fam  bete  him  in  fat  tide 

Til  blode  brast  out  on  ilka  side. 

He  bad,  when  he  was  sogat  bet, 

J>ai  sold  him  hang  on  a  gebet,  1050 

And  fat  fai  sold  let  for  nothing. 

J>an  led  fai  him  forth  for  to  hing. 

f>ai  led  him  thurgh  fat  riche  cete ; 
Of  his  pain  was  grete  pete. 

Mani  men  of  grete  renown  1055 

Folowd  him  out  of  fe  toun; 
And  al  fai  made  grete  noys  and  cri, 
And  said  with  wrang  fat  he  sold  dy. 
And  right  omang  fam  in  fe  prese 
Come  ridand  Maister  Anxilles,  1060 

J>at  an  of  his  Seuyn  Maisters  was; 
For  his  decipil  he  said  "Alias!" 
J>e  puple  cried  to  him  in  fer<?: 
"  Maister,  help  now  fi  scolere." 

J>e  maister  rides  fast  fra  ]>am  all,  1065 

And  hies  to  fe  Empm)wres  hall.     [31  b] 
J>ar^  he  findes  fe  Emperowre- 
He  gretes  him  with  grete  honown?. 

J?e  Emperoure  answers  with  ill, 

And  fus  he  said  fe  mayster  vntill  :  1070 

"  Mekil  mawgre  mot  ]> ou  haue 
For  f  e  teching  of  my  knaue  ; 


1043  X  boune.  —  1044  R  resoune.  —  1046  R  all. —  1047  R  tyde.  —  1048  R  Till, 
syde.  —  1049  R  so  Sate  bett-  —  l°5°  R  suld>  gebett.  —  1051  R  at  instead  of  }>at, 
suld  letc. —  1052  R  furth,  hyng. —  1053  R  ryche.  —  1054  R  payn,  gret.  —  1055  & 
Many,  gret  renoune. —  1056  R  toune.  —  1057  R  all,  gret,  cry.  —  1058  R  suld. — 
1059  R  ryght.  —  1060  R  rydeand.  —  1061  R  ane,  seuen.  —  1062  R  disciple.  —  1063 
R  pople  cryed.  — 1065  R  rydes.  — 1066  R  hyes  fast  to  J?e  emp^rours.  —  1067  R 
fyndes,  Ernp^roure. — 1068  R  gret  honoure.  —  1069  R  Emp^rour. —  1070  R  sayd, 
maister  vntyll. —  1071  R  Mykell.  —  1072  R  techyng. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  37 

3>e  haue  serued  litil  mede, 
And  so  sal  ge  haue  for  gowre  dede." 
J>e  maister  said :  "  Empm>ure  of  prise,  1075 

§e  war  won  to  be  war  and  wise ; 
Now]?er  sold  ge  bete  ne  ban 
For  ]>Q  wordes  of  a  woman ; 
For  wemen  wil  be  ligh[t]ly  wrath, 
And  cownsail  comuwly  to  skath.  1080 

§e  sold  noght  sla  jowre  son  forthi, 
Bot  if  je  wist  he  war  worthi. 
If  ge  him  sla  and  vs  al  seuyn, 
I  pray  to  Ihesu  Crist  in  heuyn 

J>at  vnto  gow  mot  fal  slike  case  1085 

Als  did  to  Maister  Ypocrase, 
J>at  slogh  his  neuow  for  his  lare." 
J>e  Emp<?roure  said :  "  Tel  me  mare." 
f>e  mzister  answerd  wordes  milde : 
"  Sir,  and  ]>ou  wil  saue  \\  childe,  1090 

And  gif  him  respite  al  Jns  day, 
J>an  ]>e  soth  I  sal  fe  say 
Of  Ypocras  and  his  neuow." 
J>e  Emp<?roure  said:  "  I  grant  him  trew." 
Eft^r  ]>e  childe  sone  war  fai  boun,  1095 

To  put  him  ogayn  to  presown. 
Bot  first  J?ai  broght  him  to  ]>e  towre, 
Bifor<?  his  fader,  fe  Empm>wr^. 
pare  gederd  al  ]>e  cownsail  hale, 
And  ]?e  maist<?r  bigan  hys  tale.  iroo 


1073  R  Yhe,  lytell. — 1074  R  sail  yhe,  yhowr.  — 1075  R  Emp<frour,  pryse. — 
1076  R  Yhe,  wyse.  —  1077  R  Nouther  suld  yhe.  —  1079  MS.  lighly,  R  will,  lyghtly 
wrathe.  —  1080  R  counsail  comonly,  skathe.  —  1081  R  Yhe  suld,  yhour.  —  1082  R 
yhe,  worthy. —  1083  R  yhe,  all  seuen.  —  1084  R  heuen.  —  1085  R  yhow,  fall  slyke. 
—  1086  R  dyd.  —  1088  R  Emp^rour,  sir  tell.  —  1089  R  myld.  —  1090  R  will,  child. 
— 1091  R  gyf,  respyte  all.  —  1092  R  sail.  —  1093  R  Ypocrase.  —  1094  R  Emp/rrour, 
gttzunt. —  1095  R  boune. —  1096  R  ogayne,  pr<?soune.  —  1097  R  trowr.  —  1098  R 
Bi  for,  EmpmD ure.  —  1099  R  all,  counsail.  —  1 100  R  his. 


38  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

TStory  IV.-j 
[_  Medicus.  J 

fe  Perth  Tale  Sayd  Mayst<?r  Anxilles. 

"Syr,"  he  said,  "somtym  it  was 
A  grete  clerk  fat  hight  Ypocras. 
Of  sotelte  might  none  be  slike, 
Ne  of  lechecraft  was  none  him  like. 
With  him  was  dweland  his  neuow  1105 

For  to  ler<?  of  his  vertu. 
J?e  childe  was  ful  sharp  of  wit; 
Al  fat  he  saw  sone  lerid  he  it. 
Ypocrase  p<?rcayued  hys  lar<?, 

And  thoght  he  wald  shew  him  na  mar<?;  mo 

For  wele  he  trowed,  on  euyn  and  morn,     [3 1  c] 
J>at  fe  childe  sold  pas  him  byforn. 
J>e  child  p^rcayued  his  ernes  will, 
And  wroght  al  pr^uely  and  styll, 
Vntil  he  kowth  al  f  e  maistri ;  1115 

Ypocras  was  ful  wrath  forfi. 

"  In  fat  time  bifel  fis  thing : 
Of  Hungery  fe  riche  king 
Had  a  son  fat  ful  seke  was, 

And  he  sent  efter  Maister  Ypocras,  1120 

And  bad  him  com  his  son  to  hele, 
And  he  sold  gif  him  florines  fele. 
Ypocras  thoght  lath  to  gane ; 
He  calles  his  neuow  sone  onane, 
And  bides  him  wend  vnto  fat  land  1125 

To  tak  fe  king  son  vnder  hand  : 
'  If  f  ou  can  do  him  no  medcine, 

Heading  R  said  maist<rr. —  1101  R  Sir,  sayd  som  tyme.  — 1102  R  gret,  ypocrase. 
—  1 103  R  myght,  slyke.  —  1 104  R  lyke.  —  1 105  R  dwelland.  —  1 106  R  vertow.  — 
1107  R  child,  full  scharp,  witt.  — 1108  R  All,  lered. — 1109  R  persayued  his. — 
i  no  R  schew,  no.  —  mi  R  euen,  morne.  —  1112^  child  suld,  bi  forne. — 1113  R 
chyld  persayued.  — 1114  R  all.  — 1115  R  vn  ty^i  couth  all,  maistry. —  1116  Ipo- 
crase,  full.  —  1117  R  tyme  be  fell.  —  1 1 1 8  R  ryche  kyng.  — 1119^  full.  —  1 1 20  R  om. 
he  (perhaps  an  erasure],  ypocrase.  —  1122  R  suld  gyf,  florance.  —  1 123  R  Ypocrase, 
lathe.  —  112 5  R  byddes.  —  1 1 26  R  kyng.  —  1127  R  kan,  medcyne. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  39 

J>an  sal  I  send  him  som  of  myne.' 

f>ai  ordand  fe  childe  a  gude  palfray  ; 

On  he  strides  and  wendes  his  way.  1130 

Wen  he  was  cumen  bifor^  fe  king, 

Vnto  his  son  he  gan  him  bring; 

And  sone  when  fat  he  saw  fe  childe, 

He  spak  vnto  him  wordes  milde. 

He  tastes  fe  child  syn  and  vayne,  1135 

And  says  he  suffers  mekil  payne. 

"  f>an  f  e  leche  askes  a  glas ; 
An  vrinal  sone  broght  him  was. 
J>e  child  made  water  als  f  ai  him  kend ; 
J>e  leche  loked  what  might  him  mend.  1140 

In  fe  water  he  saw,  sanz  fail, 
f>e  child  was  geten  out  of  sposail. 
Vnto  him  fan  he  cald  fe  quene, 
And  said  :  '  Madame,  tel  vs  bitwene 
Wha  has  getin  fis  child  of  fe;  1145 

On  al  manere  wit  bus  me.' 
Sho  said :   *  Nane  of  er  bot  f  e  king.' 
'  Madame,'  he  said,  « fat  es  gabi^g ; 
He  was  neuer  cuwen  of  kynges  strene.' 
Sho  said:  *  Lat  al  slike  wordes  bene,  1150 

Or  sertes  I  sal  ger  bete  fe  so 
J>at  fou  sal  neuer  ride  ne  go.' 

" '  Madame,'  he  said,   *  so  mot  I  the, 
So  may  noght  f i  son  heled  be ; 

J>ou  most  tel  me  al  fe  case  1155 

How  fat  fis  childe  getin  was. 
Sertes,  dame,  it  most  be  so, 
Or  els  fi  son  sal  neuer  go.     [31  d] 

1128  R  sail. —  ii2()R  ordaind,  child,  gud.  —  1130^  And  on,  strydes. —  1131  R 
When,  comen  bi  for,  kyng. —  H32^bryng. —  1133 /'child. —  1134  R  myld. — 
1136  R  suffirs  mikell.  —  1138  R  Ane  vrynall.  —  1140  R  luked.  —  1141  R  fayle. 
—  1142  R  sposaile. —  1144  R  tell. —  1145  R  geten,  chid.— 1146  R  all,  witt. — 
1 147  R  Scho,  none,  kyng.  — 1148  R  gabyng. —  1149  R  comen.  —  1150  R  Scho,  all 
swilk. —  1151  R  sail,  MS.  be  above  line  (pale,  perhaps  a  later  hand}.  —  1152  R 
sail,  ryde.  —  1155  R  tell,  all.  —  1 1 56  R  child  geten  wase.  —  1 1 58  R  sail. 


40  THE    SEVEN   SAGES 

I  mai  do  ]>i  childe  na  bote 

Bot  if  fou  tel  me  crop  and  rote.'  1160 

"  J>e  quene  said :  *  Sen  it  most  be  so, 
J>ou  most  tel  it  til  na  mo ; 
For  and  my  kounsail  war  vndone, 
Sertes  I  mund  be  shent  ful  sone.' 
'Dame,  by  ded  fat  I  sal  degh,  1165 

I  sal  neuer  more  fe  wregh.' 
*  Sir,'  sho  said,  'so  it  bifell, 
f»is  es  fe  twe[l]ft  gere  in  Auerell, 
J>e  JLril  of  Nauern   hider  gan  ride, 
With  mani  knightes  and  mekil  pride,  1170 

With  my  lord  him  for  to  play ; 
And  here  he  dwelled  moni  a  day. 
And  sone  bigan  I  him  to  loue 
More  fan  ani  J>e  erth  oboue ; 

For  grete  luf  and  for  gude  drewri,  1175 

I  let  ]>e  Erl  so  lig  me  by. 
f>usgat  was  f  is  ilk  child  getin ; 
Bot  I  prai  fe  fat  no  man  weten/ 

"<Nai,  dame,'  he  said,   'bot  wiltou  here? 
For  fe  child  was  geten  on  fis  manere,  1180 

To  medcin  bus  him  drink  and  ete 
Contnzriouse  drink,  co^trarius  mete; 
Him  bihoues  on  fis  wise  do: 
Ete  beres  fless  and  drink  fe  bro.' 
J?ai  toke  a  bere  fare  in  fe  town,  1185 

And  sethed  it  in  a  kalderowne. 
J>ai  gaf  fe  childe  fareof  to  ete, 
Ilk  day  omang  his  ofer  mete. 


1159  R  may,  child  no. —  1160  R  tell,  cropp. —  1162  R  tell,  to  no. — 1163  R 
counsail.  —  1 164  R  mond,  schent  full.  —  1 165  R  bi  )>e  ded,  sail.  —  1 166  R  sail.  — 
1167  R  scho.  —  1 1 68  MS:  tweft,  R  yhere. —  1169  R  Erell,  hyd<?r,  ryde. —  1170  R 
many  knyghtes,  mykell  pryde. —  1172  R  many. —  1174  R  any. —  1175  R  gret,  gud 
drewry.  —  1176  R  lete,  Erell,  lyg.  —  1177  .tfj?usgate,  geten. —  1178  R  pray,  wy ten. 
— 1179  R  Nay,  sayd,  will  bou. —  1181  R  medcyn,  drynk.  — 1182  R  Contrarius 
drynk. —  1184  R  Ette,  flessch,  drynk.  —  1185  R  toune.  —  1186  R  kalderoune. — 
118^?  child. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  41 

J>e  bro  he  drank  also  with  wyne, 

And  sone  amended  bi  ]ns  medcine.  1190 

When  he  was  warist  fair<?  and  wele, 

J>e  king  gaf  him  mani  fain?  iuel 

Vnto  fe  leche,  and  siluer  and  golde 

Als  mekil  als  he  tak  wolde. 

"  Hame  ogayn  he  went  ful  sone  1195 

And  tald  his  mayster  how  he  had  done. 
Ypocras  asked  if  al  war  wele ; 
<ga,  sir,'  he  said,  'als  haue  I  sele.' 
He  asked  what  was  }>e  childes  medcine  ; 
'Beres  fless,'  he  said,  'and  f»e  bro  with  wine.'     1200 
'  f>an  was  he  horkop,'  said  Ypocras. 

*  Sir,'  said  fe  child,  *  I  trow  he  was.' 
*O  son,'  he  said,  'bi  Goddes  dome, 
J>ou  ert  waxen  a  wel  wise  grome  ! ' 

J>an  Ipocras  thinkes  how  he  myght      [32  a]         1205 
Sla  his  neuow  ogains  ]>e  right. 

"  Son  farerfter  on  a  day 
To  feldes  ]>ai  went  J?am  for  to  play  ; 
Vntil  a  gardine  gan  ]?ai  gane 

Whar<?  nobil  herbes  war  many  ane.  1210 

Ypocras  said  to  his  neuow : 

*  Hen?  er  herbes  of  grete  vertu.' 
f>e  child  gaf  ane  to  Ypocras, 
And  he  said  fele  better  ]>ar  was ; 

And  so  he  said  bot  to  asay  1215 

How  he  might  ]>e  childe  bitray. 

Anofer  herb  fe  child  has  found, 

And  doun  he  stowpes  vnto  J>e  grownd, 

1190  R  medcyne.  —  1 191  R  waryst  fair. —  1192  R  kyng,  many  fair  iuele.  —  1 193^ 
both  instead  of  first  and,  syluer,  gold.  —  1 194  R  mykell,  wold.  —  1 195  R  ogayne,  full. 

—  1196^  maister. —  1197  R  Ypocrase,  all.  — 1198  R  Yha. —  1199  R  medcyne.— 
1200  R  flessch,  wyne. — 1201   R  horcopp,  ypocrase. —  1202  R  wase. — 1203  R 
godes. —  1204  R  well.  —  1205  R  Ypocrase  thynkes. —  1206  R  ogayns,  ryght. — 
1207  R  Sone.  —  1209  R  vntyll,  gardyne. —  1210  R  noble  erbes. —  1211  R  Ypo- 
crase.—  1 21 2  R  gret  vertow. —  1213  R  ypocrase. —  1214  R  om.  he,  R  >are  wase. 

—  1215  R  assay. —  1216  R  myght,  child. —  1217  R  Ane  other  herbe,  founde. — 
1218  R  doune,  grounde. 


42  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>at  nobil  herb  vp  for  to  tane. 

Ypocras  him  strake  in  pe  rig-bane;  1220 

J>e  childe  fel  down  and  might  noght  stand. 

f>us  his  erne  slogh  him  with  his  hand. 

He  beried  him  right  sone  in  hy, 

And  said  fat  he  died  sodanly. 

"Bot  God,  pat  es  of  heuyn  king,  1225 

f>at  ou<?rsese  erth  and  alkins  thing, 
Tok  vengance  on  pis  tresown, 
And  sent  Ypocras  pe  menisowne. 
J>an  wist  wele  Maister  Ypocras 

J>at  he  sold  dy  for  pis  trispase  ;  1230 

For  al  medcines  pat  he  kowth  teche, 
His  menyson  he  might  noght  leche, 
Hi/wseluy/z  might  he  mend  no  dele. 
And,  for  he  wald  men  wist  pis  wele, 
A  tome  wineton  forth  gert  he  set,  1235 

And  ful  of  water  he  did  it  jet; 
And  hastili  he  sent  fat  tide 
Efter  his  neghburs  on  ilka  side. 
He  tald  bifor<?  pam  euerilkane 

How  he  had  his  neuow  slane;  1240 

lAnd  sertes  for  I  wroght  pat  ill, 
Es  pis  vengance  cuwen  me  till.' 
In  pe  tun  he  bored  holes  ful  fele, 
And  stopped  ilkane  with  a  dosele. 

"J>an  he  enoynt  pe  holes  obout,  1245 

And  sepen  he  drogh  pe  dosels  out ; 
And  water  of  pe  ton  come  nane. 
Hereof  meruayled  mani  ane. 

1219  R  noble  erbe. —  1220  R  Ypocrase,  ryg  bane. —  1221  R  child  fell  doune, 
myght. —  1223  R  biryed,  ryght. —  1224  R  dyed  sodainly. —  1225  R  heuen  kyng. — 
1226  ^alkyns  thyng.  —  1227  R  Toke,  tresoune. —  1228  .tf  ypocrase,  menysoune. — 
1229  R  ypocrase. —  1230  R  suld. —  1231  R  all  medcyns,  couth. —  1232  R  meny- 
sone,  myght. —  1233  R  Him  seluen  myght. —  1235  R  wyne  ton  furth,  sett. — 
1236  R  full,  dyd,  yhett. —  1237  R  hastily,  tyde. —  1238  R  syde. —  1239  R  bi  for,  a 
dele  deleted  before  ane. —  1242  R  comen,  tyll. —  1243  R  fu^- —  1246  R  sythen. — 
1247  R  om.  And. —  1248  R  j?ar  of  nvmaild  many. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  43 

'  Lo,'  he  said,  '  I  can  ger  stem 

f>e  water  wele,  withowten  wem ;  1250 

Bot  I  can  noght,  bi  no  resown, 

Sese  miself  of  fe  menisown.     [32  b] 

And  vnto  me  es  cuzwen  fis  wogh 

For  my  neuow  fat  I  slogh ; 

And  I  had  none  encheson  why,  1255 

Bot  for  he  was  wiser  fan  I. 

Now  es  nane  mai  salue  my  sare 

Bot  if  fat  he  now  lifand  ware.' 

"Sir,"  said  fe  maister,  "fus  it  wase 
Of  fe  wise  man  Ypocras ;  1260 

f>us  ended  he  with  sorow  inogh, 
For  fat  he  his  neuow  slogh, 
J>at  vnto  him  had  trispast  noght. 
J?e  same,  sir,  sal  to  fe  be  wroght 
If  fou  so  smertly  slas  fi  sone  1265 

And  wate  noght  what  he  haues  il  done. 
J>arfor<?,  sir,  do  him  alegance." 
J>e  Emp<rroure  als  sone  him  grantes. 
J>e  maister  takes  his  leue  and  gase. 
J>e  firth  tale  fus  ending  mase.  1270 


Here  Bigins  f>e  Fift  Prices. 

J>e  mayster  hame  ogayn  es  gane ; 
J>e  ~Emperoure  wendes  to  chameb^r  onane. 
J>e  Emp<?Hce  byfore  he  fand  ; 
Wepid  fast  and  wrang  hyr  hawd. 
J>e  Emperoure  said:   "Dame,  for  fe  rode,  1275 

Mak  meri  and  amend  f  i  mode, . 

1249  R  kan,  steme. —  1250  R  vfttb  outen  weme. —  1251  R  kan,  be,  resoune.— 
1252  R  my  self,  menysoune. —  1253  R  comen. —  1255  R  enchesoune  whi. —  1257 
R  may.  —  1 258  R  lyfand.  —  1 260  R  ypocrase.  —  1 261  R  I  noghe.  —  1 262  R  sloghe. 
—  1264  R  sail.  —  1265  R  sla.  —  1266  R  ill.  —  1267  R  )>arfor,  aleggance.  —  1268  R 
Emp^rour  al  sone,  gnzuntes. —  1270  R  ferth,  endyng.  —  Heading  R  bigyns,  fyft 

process,  MS.  v.  —  1271   R  ogayne. —  1272  R  Emperour,  chaumber  o — 

1273  R  bi  fore. —  1274  R  Wepand,  hir. —  1276  R  mery. 


44  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

And  tel  me  wha  haues  done  f  e  wrang ; 

I  sal  fe  venge  or  euer  I  gang." 

Sho  said  :  "  Sir,  meruayl  es  it  nane  ; 

I  se  fine  honors  es  nere  gane  ;      .  1280 

J>e  wede  I  se  wax  ouer  fe  corn; 

Alias,  fat  I  in  werld  was  born  ! 

Alias,  fat  I  fat  dai  sold  sene 

J>at  we  sold  departed  bene  ! " 

"Dame,"  said  fe  Emperome,  "how  swa?          1285 
Sal  we  part  now  son  in  twa  ? " 
"  ga,  sertes,"  sho  said,  "  fat  sal  f ou  se ; 
For  fou  wil  noght  wirk  eiter  me, 
Hastily  fou  bese  vndone 

By  him  fat  fou  cals  fi  son.  1290 

For  his  sake  bath  knight  and  swayn 
Sal  al  be  turned  f  e  ogayn ; 
And  hastly  sal  fai  put  fe  downe 
Out  of  fi  realme  and  fi  renowne, 
And  set  fi  son  vp  in  fi  stede  ;  1295 

And  sertes  me  war  leuer  to  be  ded. 
And  if  fou  lat  it  sogat  be,     [32  c] 
I  prai  to  God  it  fal  of  fe 
Als  it  was  sene  for  sertayne 

Of  him  fat  with  his  son  was  slayn  :  1300 

J?e  son  fe  fader  heuid  of  smate." 
"  Dame,"  he  said,   "  what  was  he  fat  ? " 
"  Sir,"  sho  said,  "  if  I  f  e  tell, 
J>ou  settes  nothing  bi  my  spell; 

And  sertanly  fat  sal  fe  rew."  1305 

"Dame,"  he  said,   "by  der<?  Ihesu, 
I  sal  tomorn  wirk  al  f  i  will ; 

1277  R  tell. —  1278  R  sail.  —  1279-80  R  om.  —  1281  R  waxes,  corrte. —  1282  R 
world,  borne.  —  1283  R  day  suld.  —  1284  R  suld.  —  1285  R  Emp<?rour. —  1286  R 
Sail,  sone. —  1287  R  Yha,  scho,  sail  yhe. —  1288  R  yhe  will. —  1290  R  Bi,  calles, 
sone. —  1291  R  knyght,  swayne.  —  1292  R  Sail  all,  ogayne. —  1293  R  hastily  sail, 
putt,  doune. —  1294  R  renoune.  —  1295  ^  sett- —  I29^  ^  dede. —  1297  R  sogate. 
—  1298  R  pray,  fall.  —  1300  R  slayne.  —  1301  R  heued.  —  1302  R  bate.  —  1303  R 
scho. —  1304  R  be. —  1305  R  sertainly,  sail. —  1306  A'  be. —  1307  R  sail,  all. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  45 

And  \arioie  tel  ]>is  tale  me  till, 

Fully  al  how  it  byfell." 

f>e  Emprise  hir  tale  gan  tell.  1310 


-]  Pe  Fift  Tale  Sayd  pe  Wyfe. 

Sho  said  :  "  Sir,  sen  J>is  town  bigan, 
Here  was  wonand  a  nobil  man. 
Of  him  was  word  in  ilk  cuntre, 
For  no  man  was  so  riche  als  he ; 
Emp^roun?  he  was  of  nobil  fame,  1315 

And  Octouian  was  his  name. 
He  gert  mak  a  ful  nobil  toure, 
And  parin  did  he  his  tresoure. 
In  Rome  fan  was  wise  klerkes  twa. 
A  liberal  man  was  ane  of  ]>a;  1320 

f>e  toper  was  hard  and  fast  haldand,  — 
Nothing  wald  he  gif  with  his  hand. 
f>arfore  )>e  Emperowre  him  toke 
To  kepe  his  tresore,  als  tels  ]>e  boke. 
He  keped  it  wele  by  night  and  day,  1325 

For  wele  he  hoped  it  sold  last  ay. 

"J>e  large  clerk  wist  al  ful  right. 
And  efterward,  opon  a  night, 
Vntil  ane  of  his  sons  said  he : 

'  Rise  vp,  felow,  and  wend  with  me.'  1330 

J>e  child  said :   '  Sir,  at  gowre  will.' 
Forth  went  ]>ai  praiely  and  still. 
J>ai  toke  with  fam  bath  hak  and  spade ; 
Vnder  \>e  erth  a  hole  ]>ai  made 

1308  K  tell,  tyll.  —  1309  R  all,  bi  fell.  —  1310  R  Empmce.  —  Heading  R  fyft, 
said. —  1311  R  Scho,  toune. —  1312  R  noble. —  1313  R  centre. —  1314  R  ryche. 

—  1315  R  Emp^rour,  noble. —  1316  R  Octouyane. —  1317  R  full  noble. —  1318  R 
)?are  in  dyd. —  1319  R  wyse  clerkes. —  1320  R  lyberall. —  1322  R  wold,  gyf,  MS. 
his  above  line. —  1323  R  barfor,  emp^^our. —  1324  R  telles,  buke. —  1325  R  bi 
nyght. —  1326  ^suld. —  1327  R  all  full  ryght. —  1328  R  nyght.  —  1329  R  vn  tyll. 

—  1330  j?  Ryse.  — 1331  fiyhour.  —  1332  R  styll. —  1333^  both. —  1334^?  vndor. 


46  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

Right  into  pat  nobil  town*.  1335 

J>e  fader  went  in  to  feche  tresoure  ; 
He  findes  a  bag  ful  of  mone ; 
In  bath  his  handes  fat  hentes  he, 
And  til  fe  hole  sone  he  it  gat. 

His  son  keped  it  right  farat.  1340 

J>an  fe  fader  come  forth  ogayne, 
And  dited  fe  hole  euyn  and  playn.     [32  d] 
, "  Hame  with  f  e  tresore  hied  f  ai  fast, 

And  made  meri  wils  it  last. 

"  Sone  efter  fe  kaytef  senatoure  1345 

Case  to  loke  his  lord  tresoure. 
J>e  hole  he  findes  stoped  with  a  stane  ; 
J>e  mekil  bag  oway  was  tane. 
His  wa  he  wald  tel  to  na  man; 
Bot  in  his  hert  he  thinkes  fan  1350 

f>at  he  fat  fe  hole  so  left 
Ogain  f  eder  wald  cum  eft ; 
And  fan  he  thoght  fam  for  to  swike. 
f>an?  gert  he  mak  a  ful  depe  dike, 
Vnder  fe  wall,  fat  was  so  thik  ;  1355 

And  filled  it  ful  of  ter  and  pik, 
J>at  if  fe  thef  come  feder  ogain, 
In  fe  dike  he  sold  be  slayne. 
And  efter  fat  ilk  day  arly 

Went  he  to  fe  tresory,  1360 

To  loke  if  fat  his  gest  war  cuwen 
J>at  fe  tresor^  fefin  had  nomen. 

"  Al  had  f  ai  spended  sone  sertayn ; 
J>e  fader  and  fe  son  wendes  ogayn. 


1335  R  Rygnt>  noble  toure. —  1336  R  fech.  —  1337  R  fyndes,  full. —  1339  R 
till,  gatt. —  1340  R  >are  att. —  1341  R  furth.  —  1342  R  dytted,  euen,  playne. — 
1343  R  hyed. —  1344  R  mery  whils. —  1345  R  kaytyf. —  1346  R  luke. —  1347  R 
fyndes  stopped. —  1348  R  mykell. —  1349  R  tell,  no. —  1352  R  Ogayn  Hder,  com. 
—  1353  R  swyke. —  1354  R  make,  full,  dyke.  —  1355  R  thyk. —  1356  R  fyld,  full, 
terr,  pyk. —  1357  R  thefe  com  Hder  o  gayne. —  1358  R  dyke,  suld,  slane. — 
1359  R  arely. —  1361  R  luke,  comen. —  1362  R  >ethen. —  1363  R  All,  sertayne. 
— 1364  R  ogayne. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  47 

Bitwene  fam  toke  fai  out  J>e  stane ;  1365 

J>e  fader  crepis  in  sone  onane, 

And  doun  he  fals  in  ter  and  pik,  — 

Wit  56  wele,  fat  was  ful  wik. 

Loud  he  cried  and  said  "Alias!" 

His  son  askes  him  how  it  was.  1370 

He  said  :  *  I  stand  vp  til  f  e  chin 

In  pik,  J>at  I  mu#  neuer  out  win.' 

*  Alias,'  said  f  e  son,  '  what  sal  I  do  ? ' 

He  said :  *  Tak  my  swerd  f  e  vnto, 

And  smite  my  heuid  fra  my  body.'  1375 

J>e  son  said:  *  Nai,  sir,  sekerly; 

Are  I  sold  myseluen  sla.' 

'  Son,'  he  said,  '  it  most  be  swa, 

Or  els  f  ou  and  al  J>i  kyn 

Mu«  be  shent,  bath  mare  and  myn ;  1380 

And  if  mi  heuid  be  smeten  oway, 

Na  word  sal  men  of  me  say. 

J>arfore,  son,  for  mi  benisown, 

Smite  of  my  heuid,  and  wend  to  town, 

And  hide  it  in  som  preue  pit,  1385 

So  fat  na  man  mai  knaw  it.' 

"  His  fader  heuid  of  smate  he  fare, 
And  forth  with  him  oway  it  bare. 
Wele  he  thoght  it  for  to  hide,       [33  a] 
For  shame  fat  efter  might  bitide ;  1390 

For  if  men  wist,  it  wald  be  wer, 
And  lath  him  was  to  bere  it  fer. 

"Als  he  went  biside  a  gang, 
Into  fe  pit  fe  heuid  he  slang. 


1366  R  crepes. —  1367  R  doune,  falles,  terr,  pyk. —  1368  R  Witt  yhe,  full. — 
1369  R  cryed. —  1370  R  om.  son. —  1371  R  to,  chyn. —  1372  R  pyk,  mon,  wyn. 

—  1373  /*sall. —  1375  ^smyte,  heuedfro. —  1376  R  nay,  sikerly. —  1377  ./?suld. — 
1379  R  all.  —  1380  R  Mon,  schent  both  more,  myne.  —  1381  R  my  heued,  smyten. 

—  1382  R  sail. —  1383  R  J>arfor,  benysoune. —  1384  R  Smyte,  heued,  toune. — 
1385  R  hyde,  pytt. —  1386  R  no,  may,  itt. —  1387  R  heued.  —  1388  R  f  urth.  — 
1389  R  hyde.  —  1390  R  schame,  myght  be  tyde.  —  1391  R  war.  —  1393  R  bi  syde. 

—  1394  R  pytt,  heued. 


48  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>an  went  he  hame  wightli  and  sone,  1395 

And  tald  his  moder  how  he  had  done. 

J>e  whif  weped,  so  was  her  wa ; 

So  did  his  brefer  and  sisters  alswa. 

On  fe  morn  fe  senatoure 

Went  arly  vnto  fe  toimr;  1400 

In  fe  pit  he  findes  a  hedles  man, 

Bot  knaw  him  for  nothin[g]  he  can. 

He  kowth  noght  ken  fan  his  felaw 

J>at  he  wont  ful  wele  to  knaw. 

He  gert  haue  of  fe  pik  bidene,  1405 

And  wass  f e  body  faire  and  clene. 

He  loked  byfore  fan  and  bihind ; 

Knawlageing  kowth  he  none  find. 

"J>an  gert  he  bring  twa  stalworth  hors, 
And  bad  f  am  draw  fe  hedeles  cors ;  1410 

And  whoso  fai  saw  sorow  make, 
He  bad  biliue  fai  sold  }>am  take, 
And  at  fai  war  to  preson  led, 
For  fai  er  al  his  awin  kinred. 

J?at  hedles  body  by  fe  fete  1415 

Was  drawen  in  Rome  thorgh  ilka  strete, 
Vntil  fai  come  bifor  fe  dore 
Whare  fe  ded  man  wond  biiore  ; 
J>an?  fai  murned  and  made  il  chere, 
Whif  and  childer,  al  in  fere.  1420 

J>e  seriantes  toke  farto  gude  kepe, 
f>am  for  to  tak  fat  fai  saw  wepe. 
J>e  childer  fan  war  sare  adred  ; 
1  Alias,'  f  ai  said,  *  now  er  we  ded  ! ' 

"  J>e  son,  fat  ,wist  of  al  f  e  car<?,  1425 

Hirt  himseluen  wonder  sare; 

1395  R  wightly. —  1397  R  wife,  hir. —  1398  R  syst<?rs.  —  1400  R  arely.  —  1401 
R  pytt,  fyndes.  —  1402  MS.  np  thin,  R  kan.  —  1403  R  couth.  — 1404  R  he  was  wont 
full.  —  1405  R  pyk.  —  1406  R  wasch,  fair.  —  1407  R  bi  fore,  bi  hynd.  —  1408  R 
knawlegyng  couth,  fynd.  —  1409^  bryng.  —  1410  R  hedles.  —  1412  ^bi  lyue,  suld. 
—  1414  R  all,  awen  kynred. —  1415  R  bi. —  1416  R  thurgh. —  1417  R  vn  tyll, 
be  for. —  1419  R  ill.  —  1420  R  Wife,  all. —  1421  R  tuk,  gud. —  1425  R  all. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  49 

He  smate  himseluen  in  fe  cheke; 

f>aire  sorow  sone  so  gan  fai  eke. 

J>ai  tald  to  fam  fat  wald  fam  take, 

J>at  fai  wepid  for  faire  broker  sake.  .        1430 

J>ai  shewed  fe  wonde  of  fain?  broker, 

And  said  fai  wepid  for  nane  ofer. 

f>e  seriantes  saw  fe  wound  sertain ; 

f>ai  trowed  fam  wele  and  turned  ogain. 

"  Lo,  sir,"  sho  said,   "  here  may  fou  see  1435 

How  fi  son  wald  do  with  fe.     [33  b] 
J>e  childe  was  his  wit  bireuid, 
When  he  kest  his  fader  heuid 
Intil  a  gang,  so  ful  of  fen, 

And  wald  noght  in  erth  hide  it  fen,  1440 

Preueli,  als  he  wele  myght." 
"Dame,"  he  said,  "fou  sais  ful  right; 
Vnkind  vntil  his  fader  he  was." 
"  Sir,  on  f  e  mot  f al  swilk  case 

Bi  f  i  son,  —  }>e  deuil  him  hang  1445 

Bot  he  kast  fi  heuid  in  a  gang !  " 
"  Dame,"  he  said,   "  so  mot  I  the, 
It  sal  noght  so  bifall  of  me  ; 
For,  sertes,  I  hete  fe  hardily 

J>at  tomorn  my  son  sal  dy;  1450 

J>an  sal  he  neuer  swilk  dedes  do." 
Sho  said  :  "  Sir,  God  gif  grace  farto." 

Here   Bigins  f>e  Sext  Prolong. 

At  morn  sone  efter  )>e  son, 
J>e  JLmperoure  rase,  als  he  was  won  ; 
Into  pe  hal  fan  come  he  down ;  1455 

1428  R  bair. —  1430  R  weped,  bair.  —  1431  R  schewed,  wound,  }>are.  —  1432  R 
sayd. —  1433  R  sertaine. —  1434  R  ogayne. —  1435  R  scho. — ^437  R  child,  witt 
bi  reued.  —  1438  R  heued.  —  1439  R  Intyll,  full.  —  1440  R  hyde.  —  1441  R  Pr^uely. 
—  1442  R  full  ryght. —  1443  A'  vnkynd  vn  tyll,  wase. —  1444  R  fall  slyke.  —  1445 
R  deuell. —  1446  R  heued. —  1448  R  sail.  —  1450  R  sail. —  1451  R  sail. —  1452  R 
Scho,  gyf,  J?are  to.  —  Heading  R  bigyns,  MS.  vi. —  1453  R  after.  —  1454  R 
Emp^rour  rayse. —  1455  ^  ^a^>  doune. 


50  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>ar  was  moni  balde  barown. 

Doun  he  settes  him  in  his  sete, 

And  biddes  his  son  fra  prison  fet; 

And  biliue  fai  sold  be  boun 

To  graue  him  quik  withowten  town,  1460 

So  ]>at  he  sold  neuer  here  tell 

Mare  of  his  son,  how  it  bifell. 

Forth  }?ai  led  ]>e  semly  childe  ; 

Ladies  weped  and  maidens  milde, 

So  had  )>ai  sorow  for  to  se  1465 

How  he  was  led  thurgh  fat  cete. 

Right  so  come  Maister  Lentiliown, 
Rideand  fast  vnto  ]>e  toun, 
J>at  lered  ]>e  child  are  on  fe  boke. 
For  sorow  he  might  noght  on  him  loke ;  1470 

Bot  forth  he  rides  fast  to  )>e  hall, 
Omang  fe  knightes  and  swiers  all, 
And  on  him  fast  ]ms  gan  }>ai  cri: 
"  Maister,  kith  now  ]>i  maistri, 

And  help  ]>i  scoler  in  ]>is  nede."  1475 

J>an  to  ]>e  Emp^oure  he  gede, 
And  doun  he  knele[d]   opon  his  kne. 
J>e  Emp^roure  wald  noght  on  him  se  ; 
Til  at  )>e  last  he  said  :  "  Traytoure, 
God  gif  ]>e  mekil  misauentoure  !  "  1480 

"A,  lord,"  he  said,  "whi  so?  alias!      [33  c] 
I  am  no  traitur,  saue  gowre  grace, 
gowre  gentil  wordes,  lord,  lat  me  here." 
He  said :  "  f>ou  sal  aby  ful  dere  ; 
f>ou  and  al  J>i  cumpani  1485 

1456  R  J>are,  many  bold  baroune. —  1457  R  Doune. —  1458  R  bydes,  fete.— 
1459  R  bi  lyue,  suld,  boune.  —  1460  R  quyk  w*U  outen  toune.  —  1461  R  suld.  — 
1462  R  More.  —  1463  R  semely  child.  —  1464  R  Ladyse,  maydens  mylde.  —  1467 
R  Ryght,  Lentilioune. —  1468  R  Rydeand,  toune. —  1470  R  myght,  luke. —  1471 
R  rydes. —  1472  R  knyghtes,  squyers. —  1473  R  cry.  —  1474  R  kyth,  maistry. — 
1475  .ffscolere.  —  1476  R  yhede. —  1477^  doune,  MS.  knele. —  1478  R  EmpmDur. 
—  1479  R  Till. —  1480  R  gyf,  mykell  mysauentoure. —  1481  R  om.  he  said. — 
1482  R  tnzytoure,  yhour. —  1483  R  Yhour  gentell. —  1484  R  sail,  full. —  1485  R 
all,  company. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  51 

Sal  be  drawen  and  hanged  in  hy. 

For  I  toke  jow  mi  son  to  teche, 

And  je  haue  gert  him  lose  his  speche, 

And  also  for  to  force  my  wife  ; 

J>arfor<?  sal  he  lose  his  life."  1490 

J>e  maister  said  :  "  Sir,  it  war  wrang 

Vs  oper  to  draw  or  hang  ; 

And  if  pou  do  J>i  son  forfare, 

f>ou  sal  haue  shame  als  mekil  or  mare 

Als  he  had  pat  his  wife  gert  take  1495 

With  enimes  for  hir  owin  ded  sake." 

J>e  Empm)ure  said :  "  What  was  he  ? 

J>at  tale,  maister,  pou  most  tel  me." 

"  What  helpis  to  tel,  sir,  in  pis  stede, 

And  pi  son  pat  tyme  war  dede  ?  1500 

Gif  him  respit,  I  pe  pray, 

Whils  pat  I  my  reson  say." 

f>e  Empm>ur<?  him  granted  respite, 

And  he  was  broght  ogain  ful  tite. 

And  pan  Maister  Lentiliowne  1505 

Blithli  bigan  his  resown. 

r story  vi. n 

L  Puteus.  J 

J>e  Sext  Tale  Sayd  Maister  Lentilion. 

"  Sir,  whilu^z  was  in  pis  cuntre 
A  riche  man  of  gold  and  fe. 
Hym  wanted  nothing  bot  a  wife, 
For  to  solace  with  his  life.  1510 

Of  neghburs  childer  none  wald  he, 
Bot  toke  a  whife  in  strange  cuntre  ; 

1486  R  Sail.  —  1487  R  yhow  my.  —  1488  R  yhe.  —  1489  R  all  so,  wyfe.  —  1490 
R  bare  0/"barefor  mutilated,  sail,  lyfe. —  1491  R  be  mutilated. —  1492  R  outher. — 
1494  R  sail,  schame,  mykell. —  1496  R  enmyse,  awen  dede. —  1497  R  Emp^rour. 

—  1498  R  tell. —  1499  R  helpes,  tell. —  1501  R  Gyf,  respyte,  say  after  \>e  deleted. 

—  1503  R  Emp^rour,  graunted  respyte.  —  1504  R  ogayne  full  tyte.  —  1505  R  Len- 
tilyoune. —  1506  R  Blythely,  resoune.  —  Heading  MS.  vi.,  R  said,  Lentilioune. — 
1507  R  Whilom,  centre,  J?is  in  margin.  —  1508  R  ryche,  fee.  —  1509  R  Him,  wyfe. 

—  1510  R  lyfe. —  1511  R  childre. —  1512  R  wife,  straunge  centre. 


52  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

A  damisel  he  feched  ferr; 

He  might  haue  had  wele  better  nere. 

Fair*?  sho  was  and  lufsom  als  ;  1515 

Bot  vnderneth  git  was  sho  f  als ; 

Sho  had  a  leman  praiely 

J>at  lang  bifor<?  had  Hggen  her  by. 

When  hir  husband  had  broght  hir  home, 

Hir  leman  smertly  efter  come.  1520 

He  toke  a  chamber  ner<?  fat  stede. 

Him  thurt  noght  can?  fan  for  his  brede  ; 

f>e  wife  fand  him  inogh  plente  ; 

With  fe  husband  gode  ful  meri  made  he. 

And  when  fe  wife  might  feder  wyn,  1525 

To  play  fam  let  fai  for  no  sin.     [33  d] 

"  In  fat  toun  was  ane  vsage 
J>at  halden  was  with  maister  and  page  : 
J>at  whoso  war  tane  in  fe  toun 

Efter  curfu  bel  vp  or  down,  1530 

Seriantes  sold  fam  tak  ful  sone 
And  hastily  in  preson  done ; 
And  on  fe  morn  for  ani  thing 
Bifore  domes-men  f ai  sold  him  bring  ; 
J>an  thorgh  fe  toun  men  sal  fam  driue.  1535 

J?e  gudeman  pm:ayued  of  his  wiue, 
How  fat  sho  rase  o  nightes  him  fra 
And  tald  him  noght  wheder  sho  wold  ga; 
Bot  til  hir  leman  went  sho  sone, 
And  come  ogain  when  fe  plai  was  done.  1540 

J>e  gudeman  had  wonder  of  his  wife, 
And  ful  lath  him  was  to  strife ; 

1513  R  damysell.  —  1514  R  myght,  nerr. —  1515  R  scho. —  1516  R  yhit,  scho. 
— 1517  R  Scho,  lewman. —  1518  R  lyggen  hir. —  1520  R  lewman. —  1521  R 
chumbre.  —  1523  R  wyfe,  I  noghe.  —  1524  R  gud  full  mery. —  1525  R  myght  Hder. 
—  1526  MS.  let  obliterated  except  for  part  of\,R  lett,  syn. —  1527  R  tonne,  MS. 

w . .  .  ne.  —  1 529  MS.  w e,  R  toune.  —  1 530  R  After  curfew,  MS.  be  .  .  p,  R 

bell,  doune.  —  1531  R  suld,  full. —  1533  R  any. —  1534  R  Bi  for,  suld,  bryng. — 
1535  &  thurgh,  toune,  sail,  dryue.  —  1536  R  gud  man,  p^rsayued,  wyue. —  1537  R 
scho  rayse  o  nyghtes.  — 1538  .MS.  whedes,  R  whider  scho  wald.  — 1539  R  tyll,  lew- 
man,  scho.  —  1540  R  ogayne,  play.  —  1541  R  gud  man,  wyfe.  —  1542  R  full,  stryfe. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  53. 

Wele  he  thoght  par  was  sum  gile, 
Bot  git  he  wold  habide  a  while. 

"  Opon  a  night  farefter  sone  1545 

To  bed  J>ai  went,  als  J>ai  war  won. 
Vntil  his  whif  he  turned  his  bak, 
And  still  he  lay  and  nothing  spak. 
When  sho  hopid  he  war  on  slepe, 
f>e  whif  out  of  fe  bed  gan  crepe.  1550 

J>e  gudeman  wele  pm:ayued  \n  hi 
How  J>at  sho  went  to  hir  lutby. 
When  he  wist  how  ]>e  gami«  ferd, 
J»e  dor<?  ful  stalworthly  he  sperd 
With  lokkes  and  with  barres  grete,  1555 

And  lete  his  whif  stand  in  ]>e  strete. 
He  sweres  bi  God,  mekil  of  might, 
Sho  sold  noght  come  parin  ]>at  night. 
J>e  whif  at  ]?e  dor*?  ]>e  ring  gan  shak ; 
J>e  godeman  at  a  window  spak,  1560 

And  said :   '  Now  mai  J>ou  noght  sai  nay, 
How  J>ou  has  done  pis  moni  a  day. 
Now  haue  I  tane  pe  hand-haueing ; 
J>ou  may  deny  it  for  nothing. 

Vnto  ]>'i  fer<?  ogain  )>ou  far<?;  1565 

J>i  cuwpani  kepe  I  na  mare.' 

"  Sho  said  :   '  Sir,   merci  for  Ihesu ! 
For  right  sone  sal  pai  ring  curfu. 
If  men  me  find,  I  mu«  be  tane; 
And  leuer<?  me  war  here  to  be  slane.'  1570 

'Nai,  dame,'  he  sa'id,   'so  mot  I  the, 
In  }>i  syn  sal  ]?ou  taken  be ; 


1543  R  J>are,  som  gyle. —  1544  R  yhit,  abyde. —  1545  R  nyght  J>are  eft<?r. — 
1546  R  wone. —  1547  R  vn  tyll,  wife. —  1548  R  styll. —  1549  R  scho  hoped,  was. 
—  1550  R  wife. —  1551  R  gxid  man,  p<?rsayued,  hy.  —  1552  R  scho. —  1553  R 
gamen. —  1554  R  full. —  1S5^  ^  wyfe. —  1557  R  mykell,  myght.  —  1558  R  Scho 
suld,  com  }>are  in,  nyght. —  1559  R  wife,  ryng,  schake. —  1560  R  gud  man,  wyndow 
spake.  —  1561  R  may,  say. —  1562  R  many.  —  1563  R  hand  haueyng. —  1565  R 
ogayn.  —  1566  R  company  I  kepe  po.  —  1567  R  Scho,  mercy.  —  1568  R  ryght  sone 
will,  ryng.  —  1 569  R  fynd,  mon.  —  1570  R  leuer.  —  1 57 1  R  Nay.  —  1572  R  sail. 


54  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

Al  Jn  kyn  sal  heren  and  sene     [34  a] 
What  myster  woman  }>ou  has  bene.' 

"Sho  saw  hir  prayer  helpid  noght,  1575 

f>an  of  a  wile  sho  hir  bythoght. 
Sho  waited  hir  a  heui  stane 
And  said :  '  Sertes  or  I  her<?  be  tane, 
Sir,  pe  soth  I  sal  pe  tell : 

I  sal  me  drown  right  in  Ipis  well.'  1580 

'Dame,  whefer  ]>ou  wil  J>e  drown  or  hang, 
Me  think  fou  has  lifed  al  to  lang.' 
fan  preuely  sho  toke  ]>e  stane 
And  went  vnto  J?e  well  onane. 

'Sir,'  sho  said,  'vengance  I  call;  1585 

For  in  ]>is  well  now  wil  I  fall.' 
Sho  lete  J>e  stane  fal  in  J>e  well, 
And  stirt  vnder  a  stok  ful  still. 
J>e  godeman  herd  noys  of  J>e  stane ; 
And  fan  he  was  ful  wil  of  wane :  1590 

He  wend  his  whif  had  fallen  down 
Into  }>e  well,  hirself  to  drown. 
1  Alias,'  he  said,   'mi  whif  es  ded ! ' 
And  forth  he  went  ful  wil  of  rede. 
He  opind  ]>e  gates  and  went  ]>ar<?out,  1595 

And  law  into  ]>e  wel  gan  lowt. 

"And  whils  he  morned  in  J>e  gate, 
J>e  whif  wan  sone  in  at  pe  gate. 
f>e  dor<;  sho  sperres  and  barres  fast 
With  barres  fat  ful  wele  wald  last.  1600 

f>e  godeman  heres  ]>e  dor,?  sper  hard, 
And  fast  he  hies  him  federward. 
'Whannow?'  he  sayd,   <wha  es  pan?  now?' 

1 573  R  All,  sail.  —  1 57 5  R  Scho,  helped.  —  1 576  R  wyle  scho,  bi  thoght.  —  1 577 
R  Scho  way  ted,  heuy.  —  1579  R  sail. —  1580  R  sail,  drowne  ryght. —  1581  R  will, 
droune.  —  1 582  R  lyf ed  all.  —  1 583  R  scho.  —  1 585  R  scho.  —  1 586  R  will.  —  1 587 
R  Scho,  fall.—  1588  R  styrt,  full  stell.—  1589  R  gud  man.—  1590  R  full  will.— 
1591  R  wyfe,  doune. —  1592  R  droune. —  1593  R  my  wif,  dede. —  1594  R  will. — 
1 595  R  opend,  yhates.  —  1 596  R  well,  lout.  —  1 597  R  murned.  —  1 598  R  wife,  yhate. 
—  1599  R  scho.  —  1600  R  full. —  1601  R  gud  man. —  1602  R  hyes,  Jnderward. — 
1603  R  said. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  55 

J>an  went  pe  whif  to  a  window ; 

Sho  said:   'What  dose  pou  now  farout  ?  1605 

Es  it  now  time  to  walk  obout  ? ' 

"'A,  dame,'  he  sayd,   'for  luf  of  pe, 
For  pat  ]> ou  sold  noght  perist  be ! ' 
*Nay,'  sho  said,   'now  am  I  her*; 
I  haue  no  drede  of  ]>i  danger*?.'  1610 

'  Lat  me  in,  dame,  I  pray  pe ! ' 
'Nay,'  sho  said,  'so  mot  I  the!' 
<§is,  dame,'  he  said,   'for  heuyw  kyng, 
For  alsone  wil  men  curfu  riwg.' 
'ga,'  sho  said,   'fat  es  wele  done,  1615 

J>e  wakemen  sal  pe  tak  ful  sone, 
And  se  pat  pou  has  bene  lichown? 
And  cuwes  hame  efter  curfoure. 
J>e  war  fayrer  hald  with  ]>i  spouse 
J>an  spend  our<?  gude  at  pe  horc-hows.'     [34  b]  1620 

"J?an  come  pe  wakemen  far  biside 
And  herd  pam  twa  togeder  chide. 
Curfu  bel  was  rungen  fan, 
J?arfor^  tane  was  pe  gudeman. 

f>ai  had  grete  ferly  it  so  ferd,  1625 

For  euil  of  him  neuen?  anr  pai  herd. 
J>arfore  pai  prayed  pe  woman  far^ 
To  lat  him  in  and  speke  na  man?. 
J>an  said  fe  whife  maliciows  : 

'He  comes  now  fra  fe  hor^-hows ;  1630 

f>us  has  he  oft-sifes  serued  me, 
And  farfore  may  we  neuer  the. 
Ful  lang  haue  I  hid  his  shame; 
Now  sal  himselues  ber^  fe  blame.' 

1604  R  wyfe,  wyndow.  —  1605  R  Scho.  —  1606  R  tyme.  —  1607  R  said.  —  1608 
R  suld,  peryst. —  1609  R  scho. —  1610  R  dred,  daungere.  —  1612  R  scho. —  1613 
R  Yhis,  heuen.  —  1614  R  will,  ryng.  —  1615  R  Yha  scho.  —  1616  R  sail,  full.  — 
1617  ^lychoure. —  1618^0011168. —  1619  j?  fairer. —  1620  R  our  gud,  hore  howse. 

—  1621  MS.  wake  man,  R  J>arebysyde.  —  1622  R  to  gyder  chyde.  —  1623  R  Curfew 
bell,  rongen. —  1624  R  J?arfor,  gud  man. —  1625  R  gret. —  1626  R  euell,  neutr. 

—  1628  R  spek  no. —  1629  R  wife  maliciouse.  —  1630  R  howre  howse.  —  1631  R 
oft  sythes.  —  1632  R  )>arfor. —  1633  R  ffull,  hir  schame.  —  1634  R  sail  him  seluen, 


56  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

"J>an  vnto  presown  put  he  was.  1635 

J>e  whife  at  hame  had  hir  solas ; 
For  sone  hir  leman  come  hir  till, 
And  fai  had  mete  and  drink  at  will. 
At  morn  sone  was  fe  gudeman  fet 
Bifor  fe  domes-men  fat  war  set;  1640 

Thurgh  fe  toun  J>an  was  he  led, 
Fowl  desspoyled  and  al  uncled. 
Sejnn  lathly  haue  fai  led  him  hame. 
J>at  whif  was  worthi  for  to  blame 
J>at  lete  fam  so  hir  husband  lede  1645 

Anly  for  hir  awin  mysdede ; 
J?is  woman  kouth  of  gile  sumdele." 
"ga,  sertes,"  said  fe  Emperoure,  "ful  wele ; 
Sho  was  wele  wer  fan  ani  hownd." 
J>e  maister  said :  "  Swik  fele  er  found.  1650 

And,  sir,  be  56  noght  euil  payd, 
gowr^  awin  es  wer,  war  sho  asaid. 
And  if  fat  fou,  thurgh  hir  euil  rede, 
Gers  fi  son  be  done  to  ded, 

Swilk  shame  mot  fou  haue  \n  fi  Hue  1655 

Als  had  fis  gudeman  for  his  wiue." 

J>e  Emperoure  sayd :   "  Sir,  for  f  i  tale, 
J>is  dai  mi  son  sal  haue  no  bale." 
J>e  child  was  done  into  presoun, 
And  fe  maister  went  out  of  fe  toun.  1660 

Vnto  his  felows  he  tald  fe  •  case, 
How  his  decipil  helpid  was. 

1635  R  p^sone  putt.  —  1636  R  wife,  solace.  —  1637  R  lewman,  tyll. —  1638  R 
drynk. —  1639  R  Att,  gud  man  fett. —  1640  R  sett.  — 1641  R  tonne. —  1642  R 
ffoule  despoyled,  all. —  1643  R  Sithen  lathely.—  1644  R  wife. —  1646  R  Anely, 
awen. —  1647  R  couth,  gyle  som  dele. —  1648  R  Yha,  Emp^rour  full. —  1649  R 
Scho,  any  hounde.  —  1650  R  swilk,  founde. —  1651  R  yhe,  euell  payde.  —  1652 
R  Yhowr  awen,  war  war  scho  asayde. —  1653  R  euell. — 1654  R  Ger,  dede. — 
1655  R  schame,  lyue.  —  1656  R  gud  man,  wyue.  —  1657  R  Emp^rour  said.  —  1658 
R  day  my,  sail. —  1659  R  p^soune.  — 1660  R  toune.  — 1661  R  felaws,  >is. — 
1662  R  disciple  helped  wase. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  57 


Here  Bigyns  J?e  Seuind  Prolong. 

J>e  knightes  voided  out  of  J?e  towr<?; 
To  chamber  went  fe  Empmmr^. 
He  findes  his  whif  J>ar*r  makand  sorow ;  [34  c]  1665 
Sho  sais  sho  sal  noght  bide  tomor[o]w. 
"Dame,"  he  sayd,  "whi  sais  pou  so?" 
Sho  said:  "I  ne  mai  none  o]>er  do; 
For  leuer  me  war  oway  be  gane 
J>an  se  }>i  landes  fra  ]?e  tane.  1670 

J>i  maisters  to  shame  sal  fe  bring 
With  argumentes  and  with  lesing. 
Wele  it  semes  for  to  be  swa 
J?at  many  sal  speke  of  vs  twa 

Als  did  anes  of  a  riche  king  1675 

And  a  steward  and  a  lady  ging." 

"  How  bifel  fat,  dame,  tel  me, 
Als  fou  wil  fat  I  luf  fe." 
Sho  said:   "My  telling  es  noght  worth, 
For  my  reson  may  noght  forth.  1680 

If  I  sai  neuer  so  sothfastly, 
I  se  }?ou  settes  nothing  farby; 
And  farfor<?  wil  I  hald  me  still, 
What  shame  so  fai  will  do  fe  till." 
He  said :   "  Dame,  tel  me  fi  resown,  1685 

And  sertanly  I  sal  be  boun 
To  do  fi  lyking  al  bidene." 
J>e  Empmce  said:  "Sir,  now  be  sene." 

Heading  MS.,  R  vii.  —  1663  R  knyghtes  voyded,  toure. —  1664  R  chaumbre. 
—  1665  R  fyndes,  wyfe. —  1666  R  Scho  says  scho  sail,  byde,  MS.  tomorw.  —  1667 
R  said,  says.  —  1668  R  Scho,  may.  —  1670  R  fro.  —  1671  R  schame  sail,  bryng.  — 
1672  R  lesyng. —  1674  R  sail. —  1675  ^  ryc^  kyng. —  1676  R  yhing. —  1677  R 
bi  fell,  tell. —  1678  R  will.— 1679  R  Scho>  tellyng.  —  1681  R  say.— 1682  R 
J?are  by. — ^683  R  J?arfor  will,  styll.  —  1684  R  schame,  tyll. —  1685  R  tell,  resoune, 
MS.  reswon. —  1686  R  sertainly,  sail,  boune. —  1687  R  lykyng  all  be  dene. 


58  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

C  Story  VII.  "1 
Senescalcus.J 


f>e  Seuind  Tale  Sayd  J>e  Wife. 


"Syr,"  sho  said,   "pis  ender 
Was  a  king  of  grete  power*?;  1690 

Bath  Poyle  and  Calaber  land 
Was  halely  bowand  to  his  hand. 
But  in  luf  had  he  no  delite  ; 
He  vsed  no  wemen  brown  ne  quite  ; 
Til  at  }>e  last  pe  riche  king  1695 

On  his  members  had  bolnywg, 
f>at  ]>  e  skin  might  noght  ouer  it  reche  ; 
And  sone  he  sent  to  seke  a  leche. 
And  when  he  come,  without  letting 
Was  he  broght  bifor  ]>e  kyng.  1700 

He  gert   pe  king  sone  make  vrine, 
To  loke  what  might  be  his  medcine  ; 
J>at  pe  king  might  lif  wele  saw  he  pare. 
A  plaster  he  layd  vnto  pe  sare; 
He  made  him  medcines  moni  and  sere,  1705 

Vntil  pe  king  was  hale  and  fere. 
J>e  leche  said:   'Sir,  for  pi  bote 
On  al  maner  nedes  pou  mote 
Have  wemen  to  play  with  o  night; 
f>an  sal  ge  sone  be  helid  right.'     [34  d]  1710 

J>e  king  said:   'Right  so  I  sail'; 
And  sone  his  steward  gert  he  call. 

"  f>e  steward  said  :   «  Sir,  what  wil  je  ?  ' 
«A  leman,'  he  said,   'feche  pou  me, 
f>at  I  mai  pis  night  with  hir  play  1715 

And  mak  me  mirth  al  pat  I  may.' 

Heading  MS.,  R  vii.,  R  said,  wyfe.  —  1689  R  Sir  scho,  yhere.  —  1690  R  kyng, 
gret.  —  1691  jR  Both.  —  1692  R  tyll.  —  1693  R  delyte.—  -  1694  R  wewman 
browne,  white.  —  1695  R  Till»  rYch  kyng-  —  ^96  R  membirs.  —  1697  R  skyn 
myght.  —  1699^?  w*U  outen  lettyng.  —  1701  R  kyng,  vryne.  —  1702  R  luke, 
myght,  medcyne.  —  1703  R  kyng  myght  lyf.  —  1704  R  laid.  —  1705  R  medcyns 
many.  —  1706  R  vn  tyll,  kyng.  —  1708  R  manure.  —  1709  R  wewmen,  o  nyght.— 
1710  R  sail  yhe,  heled  ryght.  —  1711  R  kyng.  —  1713  R  will  yhe.  —  1714  R 
lewman.  —  1715  R  may,  nyght.  —  1716  R  myrth  all. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  59 

'Sir,'  said  pe  steward,  'bi  Saint  lohn, 

In  pis  cuntre  knaw  I  none 

J>at  wald  be  with  jow  in  bed ; 

For  jowr<r  word  so  wide  es  spred.'  1720 

J>e  king  said :   '  Hete  hir  hardily 

Ten  pownd  of  gold  to  lig  me  by.' 

'Sir,'  said  pe  steward,   'it  sal  be  done.' 

Hame  he  hied  him  pan  ful  sone, 

And  fol  oft  thinkes  pe  steward  pan :  1725 

'I  wald  I  war  a  fair<?  woman, 

So  pat  I  might  win  pis  golde, 

And  do  parwith  what  I  wolde.' 

f>e  steward  was  so  couaitus, 

He  said:  'f>e  gold  sal  go  with  vs.'  173° 

"Vntil  his  wife  he  went  onane 
And  said :   '  f>ou  most  an  erand  gane.' 
'Gladly,'  sho  said,   'sir;  telles  me  wheder.' 
'f>e  king  es  seke,  pou  most  go  peder 
For  to  play  with  him  pis  night ;  1735 

Ten  pound  of  gold  he  has  pe  hight. 
J>is  night  pou  do  what  he  wil  craue; 
J>at  gold,  dame,  pan  sal  we  haue.' 
'A,  sir,'  sho  said,  'lattes  be,  f  y !  f  y ! 
He  is  noght  lufsom  to  lig  by,  1740 

And  pat  wate  mani  woman  wele ; 
f>at  war  hard  winyng  of  catele.' 
He  said:   'f>ou  sal  lig  pare  pis  night 
For  pe  gold  pat  he  has  hight ; 

For  he  that  nothing  win  will,  1745 

Nedely  moste  he  lose  bi  scill. 
And,  dame,  pis  gold  now  sal  pou  win, 
Or  I  sal  cache  pe  fro  mine  in.' 

1718  R  centre.  —  1719  R  yhow. —  1720  R  yhoz/rworde,  wyde. —  1721  R  kyng. 

—  1722  R  pound,  lyg. —  1723  R  sail. —  1724  R  hyed,  full. —  1725  R  full. —  1726 
R  fair. —  1727  R  myght  wyn,  gold.  —  1728  R  >are  with,  wold.  —  1729  R  couetus. 

—  1730  R  suld  ga.—  1731  R  Vn  till. —  1732  R  ane.  —  1733  R  scho,  whider. — 
1734  R  kyng,  }?ider. —  1735  R  nyght.  —  1737  R  nyght,  will. —  1738  R  sail. —  1739 
R  scho. —  1740  R  lyg.  —  1741  R  many  wemen. —  1742  R  wynyng. —  1743  R  sail 
lyg,  nyght.  —  1746  R  most,  skyll.  —  1747  R  sail,  wyn.  —  1748  R  sail,  myne. 


60  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

"  Sho  said :   '  Sen  I  mot  nedes  }>artill, 
God  wote  at  it  es  noght  my  will.'  1750 

J>e  steward  wald  noght  dwel  ful  lang ; 
He  gert  his  whif  forth  with  him  gang, 
And  hastily  he  has  hir  led 
Right  biiore  ]>e  kinges  bed. 

He  did  out  torches  al  bidene,  1755 

For  no  man  sold  his  whif  sene ; 
And  fan  he  gert  his  owin  whife     [35  a] 
Go  to  )>e  kinges  bed  with  strif. 
J?an  till  his  owin  bed  he  went. 

J>e  king  ]>e  lady  in  armes  hent ;  1760 

Of  hir  was  he  right  wele  paid, 
And  at  his  will  with  hir  he  plaid. 

"f>e  steward  nothing  slepe  might; 
He  sighed  and  sorowd  al  f»at  night. 
Sone  on  )>e  morn,  whe«  it  was  day,  1765 

To  ]>e  kinges  chamber  he  toke  }>e  wai. 
J>e  kyng  lay  ful  wele  and  warm, 
Slepeand  in  ]>e  ladies  arm. 
J>e  steward  had  ful  mekil  wa ; 

Vp  and  doun  fast  gan  he  ga,  1770 

And  sighed  euer  with  mekil  sorow 
Vntil  it  was  nen?  myd-morow. 
J>e  king  sleped  ful  wele  ay ; 
J>e  steward  thoght  ful  lang  }>ai  lay. 
*  Alias!'  he  said,   'I  was  to  blame  1775 

To  do  myself  so  mekil  schame. 
Better  es  to  waken  ]>e  king 
And  praieli  my  whif  hame  bring.' 


1749  R  Scho,  most,  J>ar  tyll. —  1750  R  \>at.  —  1751  R  dwell. —  1752  R  wife.  — 
1754  R  bifor,  kynges. —  1755  R  all. —  1756  R  suld,  wife. —  1757  R  awen  wyfe. — 
1758  R  kynges,  stryfe. —  1759  R  till,  awen. —  1760  Rkyng. —  1761  R  ryght,  payd. 
—  1762  R  playd. —  1763  R  myght. —  1764  R  syghed,  screwed  all,  nyght.  —  1766 
R  kynges  chaumbre,  way,  MS.  chanber. —  1767  R  full,  warme. —  1768  R  Slepand, 
ladyes  arme. —  1769  R  full  mykell. —  1770  R  doune. —  1771  j?  syghed,  mykell. — 
1772  R  vn  tyll.  —  1773  R  kyng,  full. —  1774  R  full. —  1776  ^mykell. —  1777  R 
kyng. —  1778  R  pmiely,  wife,  bryng. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  6 1 

He  opind  ]>e  chamber  dor  bilyue 

Whan?  ])e  king  lay  with  his  wyue ;  1780 

*  Wake,  sir/  he  said,   « it  es  forth  dais ; 

And  lattes  J>e  lady  wend  hir  waies.' 

" '  Nai,'  said  J>e  king,  '  by  Saint  Dinise, 
§it  ne  think  I  noght  to  rise ; 

First,  in  faith,   I  sal  asay  1785 

With  J>is  lady  anes  to  play.' 
'Nai,   sir,'  he  sayd,  'for,  sertanly, 
f>at  es  my  whif  J»at  ligges  J?e  by.' 
'  What ! '  said  ]> e  king,   '  es  Jus  }>i  whif  ? ' 
f>e  steward  said :   '  ga,  bi  mi  life  ! '  1790 

'  Fy  ! '  said  fe  king,  '  fitz  de  putayne  ! 
Whi  lete  J?ou  hir  fan  be  forlayne  ? ' 
f>e  steward  said :  '  Sir,  for  ten  pownd 
Of  florins  fat  er  riche  and  rownd.' 
J>e  king  said:  'f>ou  wate  ful  wele,  1795 

I  bad  J>e  bring  a  damysele 
And  noght  to  bring  to  me  ]>i  wiue ; 
Out  of  my  land  J>ou  fle  bilyue ! 
J>ou  has  bitraied  ]>i  whif  and  me. 
And  }>ou  bide  til  I  resin  be,  1800 

I  sal  ger  draw  }>i  traytur  cors 
Thurgh  ]ns  toun  with  wild  hors ! 
Out  of  my  land  I  fleme  }>e, 
And  \\  whif  sal  won  with  me.     [35  b] 
If  fou  habide  mine  vp-rising,  1805 

J>ou  sal  be  hahged,  by  heuyn  king ! ' 
J>usgat  ]>e  steward  lost  his  whife, 
And  fled  oway  to  saue  his  life ; 


1779  R  opend,  chaumbre  dore. —  1780  R  kyng. —  1781  R  days. —  1782  R  ways. 

—  1783  R  Nay,  kyng  be,  Dynyse.  —  1784  R  Yhit,  ryse.—  1785  R  ffirst,  fayth,  sail 
assay.  —  1787  R  Nay,  said,  sertainly.  —  1788  R  wife,  lygges  yhow.  —  1789  R  kyng, 
wife.  —  1790  R  yha,  my  lyfe.  —  1791  R  kyng  fytz. —  1793  R  pound.  —  1794  R 
florance,  ryche,  round.  —  1 795  R  kyng,  full.  —  1 796  R  bryng.  —  1 797  R  bryng,  wyue. 

—  1798  R  be  lyue.  —  1799  R  bitrayd,  wif.  —  1800  R  byde  tyll  rysen,  omitting  I.  — 
1801  R  sail. —  1802  R  toune,  wyld. —  1804  R  wife  sail.  —  1805  R  habyde  my 
vp  ryseyng.  —  1806  R  sail,  bi  heuen  kyng. —  1807  R  Jmsgate,  wyfe. —  1808  R  lyfe. 


62  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

"  J>us  out  of  fe  land  fe  steward  gase. 
J>e  king,  when  fat  him  list,  vp  rase.  1810 

J>e  lady,  whils  him  liked,  held  he, 
And  gaf  hir  giftes,  bath  gold  and  fe ; 
And  sefen  he  gaf  hir  with  his  hand 
Vntil  a  baron  of  his  owin  land. 
He  wedded  hir  and  was  wele  payd ;  1815 

f>is  ladi  was  noght  euel  bitrayd." 

f>e  Empmce  said :   "  Sir,  right  swa 
Mu«  }>ou  be  flemed  fi  landes  fra, 
Or  els  done  to  doleful  ded, 

Thorgh  fi  wiked  maisters  rede.  1820 

J>us  sal  fou  lose  fi  landes  and  me. 
Bot  I  mai  dwell  in  Jris  cuntre ; 
And  eiter  fe,   Sir  Emperown?, 
Mai  me  wed  sum  vauaceowr^ ; 

For  I  mai  lede  ful  esey  life  1825 

If  I  be  noght  an  emp^rour^s  whife. 
Sir,  ]>us  sal  fi  hap  be  hard 
Als  it  bitid  to  fe  steward." 

"Dame,"  he  said,   "so  mot  I  ga, 
To  me  sal  noght  bitide  swa ;  1830 

I  sal  noght  trow  fe  maisters  rede, 
Bot  tomorn  sal  mi  son  be  dede." 
"Sir,"  sho  said,   "so  haue  I  sele, 
J>an  wirkes  fou  wisely  and  wele. 
Els  sal  he  bring  fe  vnto  bale."  1835 

f>us  endes  fe  seuind  tale. 

1810  R  kyng,  lyst.  —  1811  R  lyked.  —  1812  R  gyftes  both.—  1813  R  sithen.— 
1814  R  vn  tyll,  awen.  — 1816  R  lady,  euell. —  1817  R  ryght. —  1818  R  Mon.— 
1819  R  dolefull.—  1820  R  Thurgh,  musters  wicked  red.—  1821  R  sail.—  1822  R 
may,  centre. —  1823  R  Emp^roure. —  1824  R  May,  som  vauaceoure. —  1825  R 
may,  full,  lyfe. —  1826  R  ane  Emperice  wyfe.  —  1827  R  sail.  —  1828  R  bi  tyd.  — 
1830  R  sail,  be  tyde.  —  1831  R  sail.  —  1832  R  sail  my.—  1833  R  scho.—  1835  R 
sail,  bryng.  —  1836  MS.  vii.,  R  seuend. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  63 


Here   Bigins  J>e  Aght  Prolong. 

f>e  morn  come,  als  men  mai  her<?; 
f>e  Empm>wre  rase  with  meri  chen?; 
Vnto  ]?e  hal  he  makes  him  jare ; 
Barons  and  knightes  he  findes  ]?arc.  1840 

He  bad  his  son  bifore  J>am  bring; 
Sone  was  it  done  at  his  biding. 
He  bad  ]>am  wend  out  of  fe  toun 
And  sla  him  sone  in  fat  sesown. 
f>ai  led  him  pare  he  sold  be  slane.  1845 

So  come  fare  of  his  maisters  ane  — 
Malquidas,  forsoth,  he  hight; 
And  when  he  of  pe  childe  had  sight, 
How  he  was  led  omang  pe  rowt,      [35  c] 
Aifer  gan  til  ofer  lowt.  1850 

f>e  child  J>ai  led  forth  thorgh  Rome, 
And  ]>Q  mayster  vnto  cowrt  come. 
Son  on  knese  he  haues  hym  set ; 
J>e  Empm>ur<?  ful  fayr^  he  gret. 
f>e  Empm>ur<?  said  :   "  With  right  resown  1855 

J>ou  sold  be  drawen  thurgh  ]>e  toun  ; 
For  je  haue  made  my  son  to  nyce, 
For  to  force  myne  Emp<?Hce. 
J>arfor<?  fra  bale  sal  nane  him  borow, 
And  ge  al  seuyn  sal  dy,  with  sorow  ! "  1860 

J>e  maister  said  ]?an  in  ]?at  stede : 


Heading  R  bigyns,  MS.,  R  viii.  —  1837  R  may.  —  1838  R  Emperour 
raise,  mery. —  1839  R  hall,  yhare.  —  1840  R  knyghtes,  fyndes. —  1841  R  by  for, 
bryng. —  1842  R  it  was,  bydyng. —  1843  R  wende,  toune.  — 1844  R  sesoune. 
—  1845  R  suld- — J847  R  Malquidras,  hyght.  — 1848  R  child,  syght. —  1849 
R  sett  instead  of  led. — 1850  R  Ayther,  tyll  other  lout.  —  1851  R  furth 
thurgh.  —  1852  R  maister,  court. —  1853  R  Sone,  knes,  him  sett.  — 1854  R 
Emperour  full  faire,  grett. — ;  1855  R  Emperour,  ryght  resoune.  —  1856  R  suld, 
toune.  —  1857  R  yhe. —  1858  R  enforce.  —  1859  R  J>arfor,  sail. —  1860  R  yhe 
all  seuen  sail. 


64  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

"  Sir,  if  fou  dose  J>i  son  to  dede, 

Or  thinkes  his  m&isters  sal  be  slane 

For  cownsail  of  a  wik  woman, 

So  mot  bifal  J>e  in  ]>i  life  1865 

Als  did  an  aldman  and  his  wife." 

Ipe  Emp<?rowr£  said :   "  Maister,  if  J>ou  can, 

Tel  me  of  ]>at  old  man, 

If  he  was  with  his  wife  bitrayd." 

f>e  maister  answerd  sone  and  said :  1870 

"  Efter  }>i  son,  sir,  most  ]>ou  send, 

And  I  sal  tel  J>e  tale  till  end." 

f>e  Empm>wr^  biddes  ]>ai  saue  him  sale 

Vntil  fe  maister  haue  tald  his  tale. 

Efter  J>e  child  J>ai  war  ful  snell ;  1875 

f>e  mayst^r  fan  his  tale  gan  tell. 

r  Story  VIII.  "I 
[_  Tentamina.  J 

J>e  Aght  Tale  Said  Maister  Malquidas. 

He  said :   "  Sir,  it  was  whylum 
A  riche  man  of  grete  wisdom ; 
He  had  wedded  a  nobil  whife. 

In  mekil  ioy  J>ai  led  J>air^  life ;  1880 

Til  at  }>e  last,  sir,  soth  it  es, 
J>is  gode  wife  toke  a  grete  sekenes. 
I  can  noght  tel  how  lang  sho  lay ; 
At  ]>e  last  sho  died  and  went  oway. 
Ipe  gudeman  was  in  liking  sted ;  1885 

Anofer  whif  ful  sone  he  wed ; 
And  sone  sho  died  and  he]>en  gede. 

1862  R  do.  —  1863  R  sail.  — 1864  R  counsail,  wicked  womane.  —  1865  R  bi  fall, 
lyfe.— 1866  R  dyd  ane  old,  wyfe.  — 1867  R  Empm>ur,  kan.— 1868  R  Tell, 
aid. —  1869  J?war. —  1870  R  sayd. —  1872  R  sail  tell. —  1873  R  Empm>ur  bydes. 

—  1874  R  vn    tyll.  — 1875   R  fuN-  —  l87^  R  maister.  —  Heading  MS.,  R  viii., 
R  Malquidras. —  1877  R  whilom.  —  1878  R  ryche,  gret.  —  1879  R  noble  wife. — 
1880  R  mikell,  lyfe.  —  1881  R  Till.  —  1882  R  gud,  gret.  —  1883  R  kan,  tell,  scho. 

—  1884  R  scho  dyed.—  1885  R  gud  man,  lykyng.—  1886  R  wife  full.  —  1887  R 
scho  dyed,  hethen  yhede. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  65 

J>an  lifed  he  lang  in  wedowhede ; 
Into  eld  so  gan  he  pas 

f>at  al  his  hare  nerehand  white  was.  1890 

His  seriantes  said :   *  Sir,  we  rede  jow, 
For  jowr^  solace  and  for  gowre  prow, 
f>at  ge  tak  to  sow  a  whife, 
For  certes  56  lede  an  anely  life.     [35  d] 
Sho  mai  gow  solace  night  and  day ;  1895 

J>an  mai  je  lif  with  gamy/z  and  play. 
We  rede  je  tak  sum  maiden  ging ; 
J>an  sal  je  lif  in  grete  likeing.' 
"A  damisel  he  wedded  fen; 

J>at  es  f>e  maner  of  aid  men;  1900 

gong  wemen  wil  fai  spows, 
And  fan  be  prowd  and  ful  gelows. 
Bot  litel  ]?ai  mai  of  preue  note, 
Or  els  noght ;  pat  dose  fam  dote. 
So  did  pis  man,  fe  soth  to  say,  1905 

His  whif  of  him  had  litil  play ; 
Hir  liked  noght  his  o}>er  spell. 
Herkens,  now,  how  it  bifell. 
Sone  efterward,  opon  a  day, 

Vntil  }>e  kirk  sho  toke  fe  way ;  1910 

Sho  findes  hir  moder  redy  j?an>, 
And  talde  hir  sone  of  al  hir  can?. 
'Dame,'  sho  said,   'bi  Goddes  grace, 
Mi  husband  dose  me  no  solace. 
f>arfor<?  no  better  rede  I  can  1915 

Bot  I  most  luf  sum  oper  man.' 
'Doghter,'  sho  said,  'I  sal  }>e  tell; 


1888  R  lyfed,  wydowhede.  —  1890  R  all.  —  1891  R  red  yhow. —  1892  R  yhowr, 
yho#?-.  —  1893  R  yhe>  yhow,  wyfe.  —  1894  R  yhe,  ane,  lyfe. —  1895  R  Scho  may 
yhow,  nyght. —  1896  R  yhe  lyf,  gamen. —  1897  R  red  yhe,  som  may  den  yhing. — 
1898  R  sail  yhe  lyf,  gret  lykyng. —  1899  R  damysell. —  1901  R  yhong,  will, 
spowse.  —  1902  R  full  gelowse.  —  1903  R  lytell,  may. —  1905  R  tyll.  —  1906  R 
wife,  lytell.  — 1907  R  lyked. —  1909  R  afterward.  —  1910  R  vn  tyll,  kyrk  scho. 
—  1911  R  Scho  fyndes.  —  1912  R  tald,  all.  —  1913  R  scho,  godes.  —  1915  R 
j>arfor,  kan.  — 1916  R  som. —  1917  R  scho,  sail. 


66  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

Aid  men  er  oft  ful  fell ; 

f>ai  kan  think  on  mor^  quaintise 

J>an  ani  woman  can   deuise.'  1920 

"On  J)is  wise  haues  )>e  modern  thoght 
To  mend  ]>e  doghter,  if  sho  moght ; 
And  if  sho  mai,  on  any  wise, 
Ger  \ e  husband  hir  chastise : 

Sho  said :   *  Doghter,  ])ou  be  na  fole,  1925 

Bot  wirk  hally  efter  mi  scole.' 
1  Moder,'  sho  said,   '  I  sal  do 
Whatso  ]>ou  wil  tel  me  to.' 
1  J>i  husband  has  a  fair<?  gardine ; 
A  fayre  ymp  groues  ]?arin.  1930 

Ouer  an  herber  J?e  bowes  hing  ;  . 

f>i  husband  J>arc  has  his  play[i]ng. 
When  fi  husband  es  fra  hame, 
Luke  jjou  let  for  nakins  blame, 

Bot  bid  biliue  gowr^  gardiner<?  1935 

Hew  doun  fat  ymp  vnto  fe  fare. 
If  ]>i  lord  sai  it  es  euil  done, 
Answer  him  on  ]>is  wise  sone : 
Say  ])ou  did  it  for  ]>e  nanes, 

To  warm  withal  his  aid  banes.'  1940 

Sho  said:   'So  sal  I  do,  my  dame.'      [36  a] 
When  }>e  gudeman  was  fra  hame, 
Whefer  ]>e  gardeners  wald  or  noght, 
f>e  ymp  vnto  ]>e  fir,?  es  broght. 

When  pe  gudeman  come  hame  ogayn,  1945 

For  his  fair^  ymp  he  was  vnfayn. 
He  asked  wha  had  done  fat  ded. 
'Sir,'  sho  said,  'it  was  my  rede.' 

1918  R  full.  —  1919  R  quaintyse.  —  1920  R  any,  kan  deuyse.  —  1921  J?  moder. 

—  1922  /e  scho.  —  1923  R  scho  may. —  1924  R  chastyse.  —  1925  R  Scho.  —  1926  R 
halely,  my.  —  1927  R  scho,  sail.  —  1928  R  will  tell.  —  1929  R  fair  gardyne.  —  1930 
R  bare  inc. —  1931  R  ane,  hyng.  —  1932  MS.  playng. —  1934  R  lett,  nanekyns. 

—  1935  R  byd  bilyue  yhour. —  1936  R  doune,  fyre.  — 1937  R  say,  euell. —  1940  R 
w/'t/£  all. — 1941  R  Scho,  sail. — 1942  v^gudman.  — 1943  v^gardyner.  —  1944  R  fyre. 
— 1945  ^gud  man,  o  gayne.  — 1946  A*  fair,  vnfayne.  —  1947  ^dede.  — 1948^  scho. 


THE    SEVEN    SAGES  67 

Sho  said :   *  I  did  it  for  na  harm, 

Bot  gowr<?  aid  banes  for  to  warm.'  1950 

J>e  gudeman  said:   'J>at  rewes  me  sar<?.' 

Bot  in  fat  time  said  he  na  mar^ 

To  bed  he  went  with  litil  gle, 

Bot  til  his  whife  nothing  did  he. 

On  fe  morn  fe  whife  in  hy  1955 

Vnto  fe  kirk  went  hastily. 
Hir  moder  fand   sho  sone  f  arin. 
'Dame,'  sho  sayd,   'ge  did  grete  syn 
To  wed  me  til  so  aid  a  man, 

J>at  of  no  luf  ne  mirthes  can  ;  1960 

Ano}>er  I  sal  luf,  by  Saint  lame ! ' 
'Nay,  doghtrr,'  said  sho,  'fat  war  shame. 
If  }>ou  did  so,  fou  war  noght  hende, 
f>i  kynred  for  to  shame  and  shende. 
Yf  fou  did  ani  swilk  foly,  1965 

Sone  fi  husband  sold  aspi, 
And  tak  on  f e  ful  hard  vengance ; 
J>arfor^,  doghter,  for  al  chance, 
Do  als  I  sal  tel  to  f  e ; 

J>an  trow  I  it  sal  better  be.  1970 

J>i  lord  has,  so  haue  I  sele, 
A  gre  biche  fat  he  lufes  wele. 
When  fou  sittes  fe  for  to  warm, 
J>e  byche  wil  lig  hir  in  fi  barm. 
J>ou  make  fe  wrath,  and  with  fi  knife  1975 

Reue  fe  biche  sone  hir  life. 
Yf  fi  husband  be  wrath  forfi, 
Answer  him  wele  hardily.' 

1949  R  Scho,  dyd,  no  harme.  — 1950  R  yhour,  w/t/fc  after  banes,  warme. — 
1951  R  gud  man. — 1952  R  tyme,  no.  — 1953  R  lytell. —  1954  R  tyll,  wife,  dyd. 

—  1955  R  morne,  wife.  — 1956  R  kyrk. —  1957  R  scho,  >are  in.  —  1958  R  scho 
said  yhe  dyd  gret.  —  1959  R  to  for  til. —  1960  R  na,   myrthes  kan. —  1961   R 
Ane  other,  sail,  be. —  1962  R  scho  said,  schame. —  1963  R  dyd.  —  1964  R  schame, 
schende.  — 1965  R  If,  dyd  any. —  1966  R  suld  aspy. —  1967  R  full,  vengaunce. 

—  1968  R  )?arfor,  all  chaunce. —  1969  R  sail  tell. —  1970  R  sail. — 1972  R  bych.  — 
1973  R  syttes,  warme. —  1974  R  bych  will  lyg,  barme. —  1975  R  knyfe.  —  1976  R 
bych,  lyfe.  — 1977  R  If,  i  of  >i  erased,  wrathe. 


68  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>e  gong  wife  said  it  sold  be  swa. 

Sho  toke  her  leue  and  hame  gan  ga.  1980 

Sone  ef toward,  —  sho  wald  noght  let,  — 

Or  hir  lord  bi  ]?e  fire  war  set, 

Sho  had  opon  a  robe  ful  fine, 

Forord  wele  with  riche  ermyne. 

Down  sho  sat  to  warm  hir  swa;  1985 

Hir  skirt  sho  laid  ful  fer  hir  fra. 

J>e  gre  biche  thoght  of  na  harm ; 

Sho  laid  hir  on  ]>e  ladies  barm.     [36  b] 

J>e  lady  smertly  drogh  hir  knif, 

And  sone  sho  reft  }>e  biche  hir  life.  1990 

And  with  ]>e  blode  ]>at  sho  fare  bled 

J>at  ladyes  clothes  war  al  spred. 

"Ful  wrath  J>an  was  \>e  gudeman, 
When  he  saw  his  biche  was  slane. 
*  Dame,'  he  said,   *  whi  did  }>ou  so  ? '  1995 

1  Sir,  for  sho  trispast  me  vnto ; 
And  now  sho  haues  ]ms  on  me  bled.' 
J>e  gudeman  rase  and  went  to  bed. 
For  his  hund  sare  him  forthoght ; 
J>arof  J)e  wife  ful  litil  roght.  2000 

"Ano]>er  day  to  kirk  sho  went, 
And  fare  sho  findes  hir  moder  gent. 
'Dame,'  sho  said,   'for  al  \\  lare, 
Mi  lord  lufes  me  neuer  ]>e  mare ; 
Luf  som  oj>er  most  I  nede.'  2005 

J>e  moder  said :  '  Nai,  God  forbede ; 
And  if  it  sold  nedely  be  swa, 
Tel  me,  doghter,  wham  pou  wald  ta.' 

1979  JR  yhong,  suld. —  1980  R  Scho,  hir.  —  1981  R  afterward  scho,  lett. —  1982 
R  fyre,  sett. —  1983  R  Scho,  full  fyne.  —  1984  R  ffurred,  ryche. —  1985  R  Doune 
scho  satt,  warme. —  1986  R-  skyrt  scho  layd  full. —  1987  R  grebych,  harme. — 
1988  R  Scho  layd,  ladyse  barme. —  1989  R  knyfe.  —  1990  R  scho,  byche,  lyfe. — 
1991  R  scho. —  1992  JK  lady,  all  ouer  spred. —  1993  R  ffull,  gud  mane. —  1994 
R  byche. —  1995  R  w  of  whi  erased,  hi  dyd. —  1996  R  scho. — 1997  R  scho. — 
1998  R  gud  man  raise.  —  2000  R  )>are  of,  full  lytell.  —  2001  R  Ane  other,  kyrk 
scho.  —  2002  R  scho  fyndes.  —  2003  R  scho,  all.  —  2006  R  sayd  nay.  —  2007  R 
suld.  —  2008  R  Tell,  whame. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  69 

'A  preste,'  sho  said,   'for  sertan  skill.' 

'  Nay,  doghter,   I  trow  noght  J>at  fou  will ;  2010 

Better  war  a  squier  or  a  knight.' 

'Nay,  moder,'  sho  said,   'J?#t  es  no  right; 

And  I  war  tane  in  a  knightes  bed, 

Ful  sone  ]>e  word  wald  be  wide  spred. 

With  ]>e  preste  I  mai  play  praiely,  2015 

And  na  man  wit  bot  he  and  I.' 

"  Hir  moder  fast  fan  gan  hir  blame, 
And  said :  *  Doghter,  lat  be,  for  shame ; 
I  sal  ]?e  teche  anoper  gyn, 

J>i  lordes  luf  how  JJQU  sal  win.  2020 

Whenso  ]n  lord  makes  ani  feste 
Of  riche  men  and  of  honest, 
J>ou  sit  bitore  ]?e  burd  pat  day, 
And  on  ]>i  belt  ]>ou  hing  a  kay ; 
And  in  fe  klath  fast  ]>ou  it  fest,  2025 

And  stirt  oway  when  J>ai  ett  best ; 
And  loke  ]>ou  draw  doun  mete  and  klathe  : 
f>arof  es  bot  lityl  scathe.' 
'Moder,'  sho  sayd,  'J>is  sal  be  done.' 
Hame  ogain  sho  hies  hir  sone.  2030 

Sone  eiter  J>at  ]?e  gudeman  grayd 
A  grete  feste,  als  }>e  moder  said. 
What  helpes  to  mak  lang  tale  ? 
f>e  wife  serued  of  wine  and  ale. 
Sejnn  gert  sho  set  hir  a  chayere,      [36  c]  2035 

And  set  hir  down  with  meri  cher<?; 
Onnence  hir  lord  sho  gan  hir  set, 
J>at  J>ai  might  of  a  platere  ett. 


2009  R  prest  scho,  sertaine  skyll.  —  2011  R  squyer,  knyght.  —  2012  R  scho, 
noght  ryght. —  2013  R  knyghtes.  —  2014  R  ffull,  wyde.  —  2015  R  prest,  may. — 
2016  R  no,  witt.  —  2018  R  schame.  —  2019  R  sail,  ane  other.  —  2020  R  sail  wyn.  — 
2021  ^?any.  —  2022  R  ryche,  honeste.  —  2O23^syttbe  for.  —  2024  R  hyng.  —  2025 
R  clath.  —  2026  R  styrt,  beste.  —  2027  R  luk,  doune,  clath.  —  2028  R  lytell  skath. 

—  2029  R  scho  said,  sail.  —  2030  R  ogayne  scho.  —  2031  R  gud  man.  —  2032  R 
gret  fest.  —  2034  R  wyne.  —  2035  R  Sithen,  scho  sett.  —  2036  R  sett,  doune,  mery. 

—  2037  R  Onence,  scho,  sett.  —  2038  R  myght. 


70  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

"On  hir  belt  was  hanged  a  kay, 
Als  hir  moder  gan  hir  say.  2040 

Sho  festend  it  fast  in  fe  clath, 
And  stirt  oway  als  sho  war  wrath ; 
Down  sho  drogh  bath  clath  and  kup ; 
Bot  hastly  war  pai  gaderd  vp. 

Mikel  mane  ]>e  lord  gan  make,  2045 

Anly  for  his  gestes  sake ; 
Bot  git  his  wife  he  wald  noght  blame. 
When  J>ai  had  etin,  al  went  ]?ai  hame. 
J>arefter,  at  )>e  tyme  of  nyght, 

J>e  gudeman  went  to  bed  ful  right.  2050 

Noght  wald  he  say  jit  to  his  wyue, 
For  him  was  ful  lath  to  striue. 
Bot  on  J>e  morn,  for  his  whif  sake, 
A  grete  fire  sone  gert  he  make ; 
And  eiter  a  barbur<?  sent  he  sone.  2055 

And  when  he  had  on  ]>is  wise  done, 
Vnto  ]>e  chamber  went  he  still, 
And  bad  his  wife  sold  cum  him  till. 

"When  sho  was  cuwen,  alsone  he  sayd, 
Of  hir  thre  trispas  to  vpbrayd ;  2060 

'And,  dame,'  he  said,  'by  est  and  west, 
Men  sais  pe  thrid  time  thrawes  best. 
To  chasty  J>e  I  wil  bigyn, 
For  euil  blode  es  ]>e  withyn ; 

Andy  dame,  fat  sal  be  laten  out,  2065 

For  )>ou  ert  ouer  bald  and  ouer  stout.' 
J>e  gudeman  gert  tak  of  hir  clathes ; 
Sho  cried  loud,  and  swan?  grete  athes 
J>at  sho  wald  noght  be  laten  blode, 

2039  R  hynged.  —  2041  R  Scho  fested,  clathe.  —  2042  R  styrt,  scho,  wrathe.  — 
2043  R  Doune  scho,  cup.  —  2044  R  hastily.  —  2045  R  Mikell.  —  2046  R  Anely. 

—  2047  R  yhit.  —  2048  R  eten  all.  —  2049  R  pare  efter.  —  2050  R  gud  man,  full 
ryght.  —  2051  R  yhit.  —  2052  R  full,  stryue.  —  2053  ^  wife.  —  2054  R  gret  fyre.  — 
2057  R  chaumbre,  styll.  —  2058  R  suld  com,  tyll. —  2059  R  scho,  comen,  said. — 
2060  R  tre,  vp  brayde.  —  2061  R  bi.  —  2062  R  thred  tyme.  —  2063  R  will  be  gyn. 

—  2064  R  euell,  with  in.  —  2065  R  sail.  —  2067  R  gud  man.  —  2068  R  Scho  cryde, 
gret.  —  2069  R  scho. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  71 

For  it  wald  do  hir  na  gode.  2070 

Bot  wheperso  sho  wald  or  noght, 
Hir  clathes  war  sone  of  hir  broght. 

"When  sho  stode  in  hir  smok  allane, 
J>an  sho  gret  and  made  hir  mane. 
Sho  said  sho  sold  dy  and  go  wode,  2075 

For  sho  was  neuer  are  laten  blode. 
f>e  gudeman  letted  noght  hir  to  greue ; 
Ouer  pe  elbow  he  rafe  hir  sleue; 
J>ai  set  hir  bi  J>e  fire  to  warm, 

And  first  pai  toke  out  pe  right  arme.  2080 

f>e  barbure  smate  euyn  in  pe  vaine ; 
f>e  blode  brast  out  with  mekil  main.      [36  d] 
Bi  thre  dishes  war  ful  vp  right, 
J>e  whife  lost  bath  colors  and  might. 
And  when  pai  saw  sho  lost  colowre,  2085 

J?e  gudeman  said  to  pe  barbowre 
f>at  he  sold  smertly  stanche  pe  wiue, 
J>at  sho  sold  noght  lose  hir  liue. 

"f>e  barbure  stanched  pe  blode  ful  sone. 
Vntil  a  bed  pan  was  sho  done.  2090 

J>e  lord  said :  '  Thrise  has  pou  bene  wode ; 
Forpi  }>ou  bled  thre  disshes  of  blode. 
And  if  pou  gang  wode  any  mare, 
I  sal  ger  duble  al  pi  care.' 

f>e  whif  wend  to  have  died  pan.  2095 

Eftrr  hir  moder  sho  sent  a  man ; 
Hir  moder  come  and  stode  hir  by. 
'A,'  sho  said,  'my  dame,  mercy! 
Sertes,  moder,  I  am  nere  dede ; 
I  rise  neuer  quik  out  of  pis  stede.'  2100 

2070  R  gude.  —  2071  R  whether  scho,  omitting  so. —  2073  R  scho. —  2074  R 
scho  grett.  —  2075  R  Scho,  scho  suld,  ga.  —  2076  R  scho.  —  2077  R  gud  man. — 
2078  R  raue.  —  2079  R  sett,  fyre,  warme.  —  2081  R  euen,  vayne.  —  2082  R  mykell 
mayne.  —  2083  R  Be,  dysches,  full,  ryght.  —  2084  R  wife,  both  coloure,  myght. 
—  2085  R  scho,  coloure.  —  2086  R  gud  man,  barboure. —  2087  R  suld,  staunch, 
wyfe.  —  2088  R  scho  suld,  lyfe. —  2089  ft  staunched.  —  2090  R  vn  tyll,  scho. — 
2091  R  thryse.  —  2092  R  dyssches.  —  2093  R  San- — 2O94  R  sa^>  dubble.  —  2095 
Jt  wife,  dyed.  —  2096  R  scho.  —  2098  R  scho.  —  2100  R  ryse,  quyk. 


72  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 


'  sho  said,   'what  ailes  pe  ?  ' 
1  Moder,  mi  lord  has  slane  me  ; 
For  I  did  thrise  euil  dede, 
Thre  disshes  of  blode  he  gert  me  blede  ; 
f>arfonr  mi  dede  I  wate  es  neste.'  2105 

'  Doghter,  wiltou  luf  pe  preste  ?  ' 
'Nay,  moder,  bi  God  of  might, 
I  wil  luf  nowper  preste  ne  knight.' 
'Doghfcr,  bifor*?  I  gan  pe  tell 

J>at  old  men  oft  sipes  er  fell;,  2110 

J>arfor<?  hald  pi  husband  till, 
And,  doghter,  pou  sal  haue  pi  will.1 

"Lo,  sir,"  said  Maist<?r  Malquidas, 
"  Was  noght  pis  a  ferly  case  ? 

Thrise  trispast  pe  woman  balde,  2115 

And  hir  penance  was  thrinfalde. 
Els  moght  pe  ferth,  so  mot  I  the, 
Haue  bene  wer  pan  al  J>a  thre. 
Sir,  on  pis  wise  fares  pi  whife  ; 

Sho  wil  pe  bring  in  sorow  and  strife.  2120 

Sho  es  obout  bath  dai  and  night 
At  ger  pi  son  to  ded  be  dight. 
And  if  pi  son,  sir,  so  war  shent, 
f>an  war  par^  none  amendment. 

J>arfor<?,  sir,  tak  a  better  thoght,  .     2125 

And  at  hir  kownsail  do  po[u]  noght. 
For  al  pe  land  wald  pe  despyse, 
To  trow  hir  wordes  and  leue  pe  wise." 
J>e  Empm>ur<?  said:  "So  haue  I  sele,     [37  a] 
J>ou  sais  right  wittily  and  wele.  2130 


2101  R  scho,  ayles. —  2102  R  my. —  2103  R  thryse  euell.  —  2104  R  dyssches.  — 
2105  R  par  for  my  ded.  —  2106  R  will  J>ou.  —  2107  R  be,  myght. —  2108  R  will, 
nouther  prest,  knyght.  —  2110  R  aid,  sythes,  full  inserted  before  fell.  —  2111  R 
}>ar  for,  tyll.  —  2112  R  sail,  all  inserted  before  \>\.  —  2113  R  Malquidras.  —  2115  R 
Thryse,  bald.  —  2116  R  thrynfald.  —  2117  R  mot  for  moght.  —  2118  R  war,  all. — 
2ii9^fars,  wyfe.  —  2120  R  Scho  will,  bryng,  stryfe.  —  2121  R  Scho,  both  day, 
nyght.  —  2122/Myght. —  2123  ^schent.  —  2124^  amendement.  —  2125  R  ^arfor. 
—  2126  R  counsail,  MS.  J?o.  —  2127  R  all.  —  2129  R  Emp<rrour. —  2130  R  says  ryght. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  73 

]?is  dai  sal  noght  my  son  be  slain, 

Bot  put  him  to  preson  ogayn. 

Tomorn  he  sal  be  borowd  or  brent 

By  rightwis  dome  and  iuiement." 

J?e  mzyster  hame  ogayn  gan  wend.  2135 

Aght  tales  er  now  broght  til  end. 

Here  Bigins  f>e  Neghend  Prolong. 

When  day  was  went  vnto  ]>e  night, 
J>e  Empm>ur<?  went  to  chamber  right. 
f>e  Empmce  pan  come  him  nere, 
Makand  a  ful  sary  cher^.  2140 

"Whawnow?"  said  ]>e  Empm>wr^, 
"Wha  haues  done  |>e  dishonown?  ? " 
Sho  said :   "  Wele  aght  me  to  be  wrath, 
For  ge  luf  thinges  J>at  me  es  lath. 
§e  luf  lurdans  with  losengeri,  2145 

And  trowes  pair*  tales  pat  er  gilri. 
So  did  Cressent,  }>e  riche  man, 
f>at  gold  and  siluer  mekil  wan. 
He  trowed  loseniowres  techeing 
J>at  broght  him  vnto  euil  ending."  2150 

f>e  Empm>wr<?  said :   "  My  lady  fre, 
How  Cressent  endid  tel  pou  me." 
Sho  said:  "Wharto  sold  I  tel  oght, 
Sen  J>at  mi  telling  helpes  noght  ? " 
He  said:   "Dame,  I  sal  do  fat  thing  2155 

J>at  may  me  saue  fra  euil  ending ; 
And  J>arfor£,  dame,  tel  me  ]ns  tale." 
"Sir,"  sho  said,   "gladly  I  sale." 

2131  R  day  sail,  slayne.  —  2132  R  o  gayne.  —  2133  R  sail.  —  2134  R  Bi  ryght 
wise,  iugement.  —  2135  R  maister,  o  gaine,  wende.  —  2136  R  till  ende.  —  Heading 
R  bigyns,  MS.,  R  ix.  —  2137  R  nyght.  —  2138  R  Emp^rour,  chauber.  —  2140^ 
full.  —  2141  R  Emp^roure.  —  2142  R  dishonoure.  —  2143  R  Scho,  wrathe.  —  2144 
R  yhe,  thing,  lathe. —  2145  R  Yhe,  losengery.  —  2146  R  J?air,  gylry.  —  2147  R 
ryche.  —  2148  R  syluer  mykell.  —  2149  R  loseniowrs  techyng.  —  2150  R  vn  tyll 
euell  endyng.  —  2151  R  Emperour.  —  2152  tended  tell.  —  2 153^?  Scho,  whare  to 
suld,  tell.  —  2154  R  my  tellyng.  —  2155  R  sail.  —  2156  R  fro  euell  endyng.  —  2157 
R  tell.—  2158  R  scho. 


74  THE   SEVEN  SAGES 

L Story  IX.~1 
Virgilius.  J 

J>e  Neghend  Tale  Sayd  J>e  Wyfe. 

"Syr,"  sho  said,  "}?ar<?  was  whilome 
A  clerk,  hight  Virgil,  her*  in  Rome.  2160 

Wele  was  he  knawen  omang  clergi, 
And  mekil  he  cowth  of  nigromancy. 
He  made  a  fir^  by  experiment 
In  middes  Rome,  on  ]>e  pauemewt. 
It  brined  bath  by  day  and  night,  2165 

fat  no  man  it  stanche  might ; 
With  water  ne  with  nonekins  thing 
No  man  myght  it  out  bring. 
J>e  pouer  folk  of  ]>e  cuntre 

Drogh  ful  fast  to  }>e  cete  2170 

At  warm  J>am  bath  fote  and  hand, 
For  J>e  fir<?  was  ay  brinand.       [37  b] 
Opon  a  tour^  J>an?  of  J>e  toun 
Virgil  made  an  ymage  of  latoun ; 
A  bow  ]?e  ymage  held  in  hand,  2175 

And  in  ])&  bow  ane  arow  taisand. 

"  In  ]>e  vesage  als,  on  brede, 
Was  wreten  )>us,  fat  men  might  rede : 
'Whoso  smytes  me,  knight  or  swain, 
Sone  I  sal  smyte  him  ogayn.'  2180 

So  it  bifell,  opon  a  day, 
J>ar^  come  a  Lumbard  him  to  play; 
He  saw  ]>e  image  with  bow  bent, 
And  to  ]>Q  lettres  toke  he  tent. 
f>ai  said:   'If  ani  man  me  smyte,  2185 

Heading  MS.,  R  ix.;  J?  said.  —  2159  J?  Sir  scho.  —  2160  R  Virgyll.  —  2161  R 
clergy. —  2162  R  mykell,  couth,  nygromancy.  —  2163  A'  fyre  be.  —  2164  R  myddes, 
pament.  —  2165  R  birned  both  bi,  nyght.  —  2166  R  staunche  myght.  —  2167  MS. 
none  king,  R  nonekyn.  —  2168  A3  bryng.  —  2169  R  pore,  contre.  —  2170  R  full. — 
2172  R  fyre,  brynand.  —  2173  R  toune.  —  2174  R  Uirgyll,  ane,  latoune.  —  2176  R 
taysand.  —  2177  R  visage. —  2178  R  wryten,  myght.  —  2179  R  knyght,  swayne. — 
2180  R  sail,  ogayne. —  2183  R  ymage.  —  2184  R  letters,  entent.  —  2185  R  any. 


THE  SEVEN   SAGES  75 

I  sal  shote  at  him  ful  tite.' 

f>e  Lumbard  was  iolif  and  stowt, 

And  said  vntil  his  men  obowt : 

*  Wil  ge  ]ris  man  asaid  be  ? ' 

And  J>ai  said:   '^a,  pat  wald  we  se.'  2190 

He  shot  at  ]>e  ymage  with  a  vir<?, 

And  sone  it  torned  al  into  }>at  fir* 

J>at  was  made  in  middes  pe  way ; 

fan  slokkend  it  for  euer  and  ay. 

Sir,  pis  was  na  wise  kownsail.  2195 

Bot  git  far  was  a  more  merua[i]l. 

"Virgil  on  pe  est  wal  of  pe  town 
Made  anoper  image  of  latown, 
And  in  his  hand  a  ful  f  aire  ball ; 
And  als  he  set  on  J>e  west  wall  2200 

Of  fine  laton  anoper  ymage, 
Like  two  breper  of  vesage. 
Ful  many  men  it  saw,  and  sayd 
f>at  with  pe  ball  pe  childer  plaide; 
f>e  tane  it  kest,  fat  oper  it  hent ;  2205 

J>is  was  a  quaintise,  verrayment. 
In  myddes  Rome  Virgil  made  a  stage, 
And  pare  he  set  anoper  ymage ; 
A  merure  had  he  in  his  hand, 

J>at  pai  of  Rome  myght  se  ilk  land  2210 

f>at  seui«  daies  iornay  obout  paw  ere, 
Who  wald  pam  pese  and  who  wald  were. 
J>us  war  pai  warned  ilka  day 
When  any  fase  wald  J>am  affray. 


2186^?  sail  schote,  full  tyte.  —  2187  R  both  iolyf.  — 2188  R  vn  tyll,  obout. 
—  2189  R  Will  yhe,  assayd.  —  2190  R  yha.  —  2191  R  schot,  vyre.  —  2192  R 
turned  all,  fyre.  —  2193  R  myddes.  —  2195  R  no,  counsaile.  —  2196  R  yhit  J>are, 
m^mayle,  MS.  menial.  —  2197  R  Uirgyll,  wall,  toune.  —  2198  R  ane  other  ymage, 
latoune.  —  2199  R  full  fair.  —  2200  R  sett. —  2201  R  fyne  latoune  ane  other. — 
2202  R  Lyke,  breth^r,  visage.  —  2203  R  ffull,  said.  —  2204  R  playd.  —  2205  R 
>e  tother.  —  2206  R  quayntyse  v<rrament.  —  2207  R  Virgyll.  —  2208  R  sett  ane 
other.  —  2209  R  merowre.  —  2211  R  seuen  days.  —  2212  R  Wha,  wold. — 2214  R 
faes  wold. 


76  THE  SEVEN  SAGES 

"f>e  king  of  Poyl  had  grete  enuy  2215 

J>at  ]>ai  vsed  swilk  maystri. 
Ogaynes  Rome,  for  nakins  nede, 
Of  batayl  myght  he  neuer  spede, 
f>at  he  ne  was  alway  euil  flayed,     [37  c] 
Ouercuwen,  or  trattursly  bytrayed.  2220 

"f>e  king  of  Poyl  has  sent  his  sande 
"Eiter  ]>e  best  clerkes  of  his  land. 
He  talde  ]>am  al  his  grete  greuance, 
And  said  pat  he  sold  J>am  avance, 
And  gif  pam  ful  gude  warisowne  2225 

J>at  kowth  bring  ]?at  ymage  doun. 
Twa  clerkes  }>at  iurne  vndertoke, 
And  said :   '  Lord,  lely  we  sal  luke.' 
Ayther  of  J>am  fild  a  forcers 

Ful  of  gold  and  siluer  clerc,  2230 

And  gert  pam  lede  in  praiete 
Vnto  Rome,  ]?at  riche  cete. 
J?ai  groue  pat  ane,  so  God  it  wate, 
In  Rome  right  at  pe  west  gate, 
Vnder  the  ymage  pat  held  pe  ball,  2235 

J>at  thoght  wele  what  sold  former  fall. 

"f>at  oper  forcer  ful  of  golde 
Delued  pai  vnder  ]>e  molde, 
At  pe  est  sate,  pat  same  nyght. 
And  etter,  when  pe  day  was  light,  2240 

J>ai  shewed  pam  opinly  in  Rome, 
And  to  pe  Empm^wr^  bath  pai  come. 
J>ai  said :   '  God  luke  f»e,  sir  ~Emperoure ; 
It  fals  to  ]>e  to  luf  tresowr*?, 

2215  R  kyng,  gret.  —  2216  J?  maistry.  —  2217  K  Ogyns,  nanekyns.  —  2218  AJ 
batail. —  2219  R  all  way  euell  flayde.  —  2220  J?  Ouer  cowmen,  traytursly  bi  trayde. 

—  2221  ^?kyng.  —  2222  ^lande.  —  2223  R  tald,  all,  gret  greuaunce.  —  2224  R  suld, 
auaunce.  —  2225  R  gyf,  full  gud  warysoune.  —  2226  R  couth  bryng,  doune. — 
2227  R  iourne.  —  2228  R  sail  we.  —  2229  R  fyld.  —  2230  R  ffull,  syluer.  —  2232 
R  ryche.  —  2233  R  J?e  tone. —  2234  R  ryght,  yhate.  —  2235  R  bale.  —  2236  R  suld. 

—  2237  R  J>e  tother,  full.  —  2239  R  yhate.  —  2240  R  lyght. : — 2241  R  schewed, 
openly.  —  2242  R  Emp^rour  both.  —  2244  R  falles,  tresoure. 


THE  SEVEN   SAGES  77 

And  we  er  cuwen  fra  fer  cuntre  2245 

For  tresor<?  hid  in  J>is  cete ; 

And  if  ]>ou  wil  vs  grant  halfdele, 

We  sal  find  it  fair^  and  wele.' 

J>e  Empm>ur^  said :   '  J>at  grant  I  sow, 

For  it  mai  turn  to  mekil  prow.  2250 

Gifes  me  a  part,  takes  jow  anojw.' 

pan  answerd  J>e  elder  broker: 

'Sir,  I  rede  we  rest  pis  night, 

And  tomorn,   bi  dayes  lyght, 

Sir,  J>ou  sal  haue  al  J>i  will.'  2255 

pus  J>at  night  habade  }?ai  still. 

"  On  J?e  morn  )?ai  toke  ]>e  gate, 
With  ]>Q  Empm>wnr,  to  pe  west  gate. 
par<?  }>ai  delued  in  ]?e  molde, 

^;z</  fand  a  forcer  ful  of  golde.  2260 

To  J>e  Emp^ownr  )>ai  it  gafe, 
^4«^  said:  'Sir,  lo,  ]>is  vowche  we  safe.' 
f>an  said  }>e  Emp^rour*  )>ai  war  wise ; 
Held  he  none  so  mekil  of  prise. 
J>e  Empm)ur<?  went  to  his  palays,  2265 

With  mani  barons  and  burgays.        [37  d  ] 
J>e  gong<?r  clerk  said :   '  Sir   Emp<f/-owr<f, 
Tomorn  sal  we  find  fair^  tresowr^/ 
On  ]>Q  morn  fe  to]?<?r  forceoure  fai  fand 
Whar^  fai  had  feled  it  with  fair*?  hand.  2270 

J>an  was  ]>e  Empmmre  vrele  paid. 
And  bath  ]>e  clerkes  vnto  hiw  said : 
'  Tomorn,  sir,  sal  we  tresor^  fynde, 


2245  R  comen,  centre.  —  2246  R  hyd.  —  2247  R  will,  gnzunt.  —  2248  R  sail 
fynd,  fayre.  —  2249  -^  g^mnt,  yhow.  —  2250  R  may,  mykell.  —  2251  R  Gyfes, 
yhow  ane  other.  —  2253  R  red,  ryst,  nyght.  —  2254  R  days.  —  2255  R  sail,  all. — 
2256  R  nyght  abade,  styll.  —  2257  MS.  \>a.t/or  }>ai.  —  2258  R  Emp^roure,  yhate.  — 
2259  R  mold.  —  2260  R  full,  gold.  —  2261  R  Emp<?rour.  —  2262  R  vouche,  saue. 
—  2263  MS.  J>ai  for  >an,  R  Emp<?rour.  —  2264  R  mykell,  pryse.  —  2265  R  Em- 
perour.  —  2266  R  many. —  2267^  yhonger,  Emperoure.  —  2268  R  sail,  fynd  fair 
tresoure.  —  2269  -^  forceour.  —  2270  R  J>air. —  2271  R  Empcrrour,  payd.  —  2272 
R  both,  sayd.  —  2273  R  sail. 


78  THE  SEVEN   SAGES 

J?ar  es  none  swilk  ira  hethin  to  Ynde.' 

J>ai  went  to  bed  and  rase  at  morow,  2275 

J>e  Empmmr^  to  mekil  sorow. 

"  J>ai  said  :   *  Forsoth,   Sir  Emp^rowr<?, 
Wharc  fe  ymage  standes  w/t#  ]>e  merour[>], 
Vnder  ]>e  stane,  in  fe  molde, 

Es  ful  mekil  seluir  and  golde.  2280 

In  al  Poyl  and  Romany 
Es  noght  so  mekil  tresori. 
If  fat  we  myght  farvnder  mine, 
We  sold  find  gold  ful  gude  and  fine. 
f»e  Emp^roure  said :   «  By  son  and  mone,  2285 

J>e  ymage  wald  I  na  skath  done.' 
f>e  clerkes  said :   '  Sir,  in  fat  stede 
Has  Virgil  hid  al.his  gold  rede. 
And  fe  ymage  sal  we  noght  let, 
So  wele  we  sal  it  vnderset ;  2290 

And  when  we  haue  fe  tresore  found, 
J>e  towr^  sal  we  mak  hale  and  sownd.' 
f>e  Empm>ur^  said  :   « Wendes  \ arto, 
Els  je  fe  ymage  na  harm  do.' 

J>ai  said:   'Sir,  we  er  noght  slike  foles.'  2295 

J>an  take  fai  men  and  mani  toles. 
]?ai  vnderset  fe  tour<?  obout, 
And  myned  it,  withouten  dout. 
J>ai  sunderd  softly  stane  ira  stane, 
And  sone  vndid  ]?e  grundes  ilkane.  2300 

"  Al  fat  dai  ]> ai  mined  with  might, 
Vntil  it  neghed  nere  fe  night ; 

2274  R  pare,  fro  hethen  till.  —  2275  R  rayse.  —  2276  R  Emp<?rour  till 
mykell.  —  2277  R  Emp^roure.  —  2278  MS.  merour,  the  tail  of  the  r  having  been 
obscured  in  the  binding.  —  2279  R  stone.  —  2280  R  full  mykell  syluer.  —  2281  R 
all  poyle.  —  2282  R  mykell  tresory.  —  2283  R  >are  vnder  myne.  —  2284  R  suld 
fynd,  full  gud,  fyne.  —  2285  R  Emp^rour,  bi.  —  2286  R  no.  —  2288  R  virgyll  hyd  all. 

—  2289  R  sail,  lett. —  2290  R  sail,  vndersett. —  2291  R  founde.  —  2292  R  toure 
sail,  sounde.  —  2293  R  Emp^rour. —  2294  R  Yhe,  no  harme.  —  2295  R  slyke. — 
2296  R  many.  —  2297  R  vnder  sett.  —  2298  R  vnder  instead  of  it.  —  2299  R  fro. 

—  2300  R  vn  dyd,  groundes. —  2301  R  All,  day,  myned,  myght.  —  2302  R  vn  till, 
nyght. 


THE  SEVEN  SAGES  79 

f>an  }>ai  said  ]>e  Empmmrc  till : 

*  Tomorn,  sir,  sal  ge  haue  gowr<?  will.' 

J>an  fai  sessed  of  J>aire  werkes,  2305 

And  to  fair*?  ines  went  fir  clerkes. 

When  ilka  man  was  at  fainr  in, 

fan  thoght  fai  on  anofer  gyn. 

Vnto  fe  stage  stilly  fai  stale 

And  toke  fam  stra  and  stikkes  smale ;  2310 

A  fire  fai  dight,  if  it  war  derk, 

Euyn  vnder  al  fat  werk. 

f>e  ymage  fel,  f  e  tour<?  alswa ;      [38  a] 

f>at  turned  Rome  to  mekil  wa. 

Wen  }>e  clerkes  saw  al  was  down,  2315 

J>ai  hied  fam  tyte  out  of  fe  toun. 

"On  fe  morn  fe  Emptroure  gan  wake; 
J>an  herd  he  men  grete  murni/zg  make. 
He  asked  whi  fai  made  swilk  cri ; 
J>e  pople  answerd  him  in  hy :  2320 

*  Our<?  tour<?  is  down,  oure  ymage  brend ; 
And  fat  es  al  bi  fine  assent.' 

f>an  was  ]>e  Emperoure  sar^  adred ; 

Ful  fain  he  wald  oway  haue  fled. 

Bot  al  fe  comuwalte  of  Rome  2325 

Asented,  by  fair/?  aller  dome, 

Sen  he  farof  was  crop  and  rote, 

For  to  bind  him  hand  and  fote ; 

And  gold  and  siluer  ]>an  J>ai  melt, 

And  in  his  mowth  and  nese  it  helt ;  2330 

In  eres  and  eghen  fai  helt  alswa, 

Ay  whils  a  drop  in  wald  ga. 


2303  R  Emp^our  tyll.  —  2304  R  sail  yhe,  yhour.  —  2305  R  sesed,  J>air.  —  2306 
R  J>air.  —  2307  R  ilk,  ]>air.  —  2308  MS.  J>at,  R  ane  other.  —  2309  R  stylly.  — 
23io^stykes.  —  2311  R  fyre,  dyght.  —  2312^  Euen,  all. —  2313  R  fell.  —  2314 
R  till  mykell.  —  2315  R  when,  all,  doune.—  2316^?  hyed,  toune.  —  2317  R  Emp<rr- 
our.  —  2318  R  gret  murnyng.  —  2319  R  cry.  —  2321  R  Our,  doune  our,  brend 
mutilated  for  last  four  letters.  —  2322  R  all  be. —  2323  R  Emp<rrour.  —  2324^ 
ffull  fayn.  —  2325  R  all,  comonalte.  —  2326  R  Assented  bi  )>air.  —  2327  R  J>areof. 
—  2328  R  bynd.  —  2329  R  syluer. 


80  THE  SEVEN  SAGES 

J>ai  said,  for  gold  and  o]>er  mone 

War  f  ai  made  thral  ]>at  are  war  fre  ; 

'  J>ou  sal  be  fild  now,  or  we  go,  2335 

Of  gold  fat  f>ou  has  couayt  so.' 

"J>us  died  fe  Empmrnr^  with  shame; 
His  awin  self  was  al  to  blame. 
He  died  for  nane  ofer  thinges 

Bot  for  he  trowed  twa  fals  gadling^.  2340 

Swilk  ending,  sir,  sal  cum  of  fe." 
"A,  dame,"  he  said,   "avoy!  lat  be!" 
Sho  sayd :   "  J>ou  trowes  f  am  ]>at  f  e  glose, 
And  sertanly  }>at  sal  fe  lose. 

And  fou  wil  mak  him  fine  a[y]n?  2345 

J>at  es  obout  ay  fe  to  payr<?. 
Alias,  fat  he  was  euer  born, 
J>at  fou  sal  for  his  luf  be  lorn  !  " 
"Nay,  dame,"  he  said,   "by  son  and  mone, 
Tomorn  he  sal  to  ded  be  done."  2350 

Sho  said :   "  I  trow  fe  neueradele. 
And  sertis,  sir,  it  sal   noght  seme  wele, 
When  fou  ert  ded  with  dishonowr*?, 
A  domb  man  to  be  Emp^rowre. 

And,  sir,  sen  fat  he  es  my  fa,  2355 

J>ou  spedes  noght  wele  to  span?  him  swa." 
"  Dame,"  he  said,   "  now  hald  fe  still ; 
Tomorn  fou  sal  haue  al  fi  will." 
]?an  was  fe  Empmce  ful  blyth, 

And  thanked  hir  lord  oft  sith.      [38  b]  2360 

Vnto  fair<?  bed  fan  gan  fai  wende. 
pusgat  past  fat  nyght  til  ende. 

2334  R  thrall. —  2335  R  sail,  fyld.  —  2336  R  couait.  —  2337  R  dyed,  Emp<rrour, 
schame.  —  2338  R  awen,  all.  —  2339  R  dyed,  none,  thynges.  —  2340  R  gadlynges. 

—  2341  R  endend,  sail  com.  —  2343  R  Scho  said.  —  2344  R  sertainly,  sail.  —  2345 
R  will,  MS.,  R  insert  >at  before  Jnne,  MS.  are.  —  2347  R  borne.  —  2348  R  sail, 
lorne. —  2349  R  sayd  be.  —  2350  R  sail.  —  2351  R  Scho.  —  2352^  sertes,  sail. 

—  2353  R  dishonoure.  —  2354  R  dom,  Emp^roure.  —  2357  R  styll.  —  2358  R  sail, 
all.  —  2359  R  full  blythe.  —  2360  R  sythe.  —  2361  R  >air.  —  2362  R  Jmsgate,  till. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  8 1 


Here   Bigins  J>e   Tend  Prolong. 

On  ]?e  morn,  when  day  was  light, 
f>e  Empm)ur<?  was  smertly  dight ; 
And  sone  ]>Q  gates  opend  war<? ;  2365 

f>e  knightes  come  with  hertes  san?. 
J>e  Emperoure  come  into  hall ; 
His  turmentoun?  sone  gert  he  call, 
And  bad  tak  his  son  fra  presown 
And  sla  him  sone  withowten  town  ;  2370 

"  Langer  sal  no  man  him  saue ; 
No,  sertes,  he  sal  no  merci  haue." 
Knightes  and  ladies,  mekil  of  prise, 
Banned  ful  fast  pe  Empmce 

For  ]?at  wa  and  for  fat  pyne  2375 

f>at  sho  did  childe  Florentyne. 
To  lede  him  forth  war  boyes  ful  boun ; 
So  come  ridand  Maister  Catown, 
f>at  mekil  kouth  of  gude  clergy, 
And  he  taght  fe  childe  curtaisi.  2380 

And  when  J>e  childe  his  maister  saw, 
Vnto  him  he  United  law. 

f>e  maister  had  grete  sorow  in  hert 
To  se  him  suffer  payn  so  smert. 
He  praied  ]>e  folk  for  to  habide,  2385 

And  to  ]>e  toun  fast  gan  he  ride. 
He  lighted  doun  bifore  pe  tour*?, 

Heading  R  bigyns,  MS.,  R  x.  —  2363  R  lyght.  —  2364  R  Emp<?rour,   dyght. 
After  2364  R  inserts  the  couplet : 

His  turmentoure  sone  gert  he  call 
And  fech  his  son  in  to  J>e  hall. 

2365  R  yhates.  —  2366  R  knyghtes,  hert.  —  2367  R  inserts  j?e  before  hall. —  2368 
R  eft  in  place  of  sone.  —  2369  R  pr<?soune.  —  2370  R  w;'t^  outen  toune.  —  2371  R 
sail.  —  2372  R  Ne.,  sail,  mercy.  —  2373  R  Knyghtes,  ladyse  mykell.  —  2374  R 
full.  —  2376  R  scho,  child.  —  2377  R  furth,  boune.— 2378  R  rydeand,  catoune. 
—  2379  R  mykell  couth  ;  R  om.  gude.  —  2380  R  child  curtasy.  —  2381  R  child.  — 
2382  R  lowted.  —  2383  R  gret.  —  2384  R  payne.  —  2385  R  prayed,  abyde.  —  2386 
R  toune,  ryde.  —  2387  R  lyghted  doune  be  for. 


82  THE  SEVEN  SAGES 

And  hies  him  to  }>e  Empm>wiv. 

He  hailsed  him  myldely  with  mouth, 

And  al  )>e  knightes,   als  he  wele  kowth.  2390 

J>e  Empm>ur<?  sat  lang  ful  still, 

And  se)>in  with  yie  he  spak  him  till, 

And  said :   "  Traitur,  high  mot  fou  hang, 

For  fou  has  lered  my  son  to  lang, 

And  teched  him  to  be  ouer  nyce,  2395 

For  to  defoul  myne  Emp^Hce." 

"Sir,"  he  said,  "so  thriue  I  euer, 
To  saue  gowr<?  grace,  he  thoght  it  neuer. 
And,  sir,  if  fou  ]>i  son  wil  shende 
Withowten  asent  of  barons  hende,  2400 

To  fe  mot  fal  swilk  velany 
Als  fell  pe  burias  of  his  py." 
J?an  said  }>e  Empm)wr<?  whar  he  sat : 
"Tel  me  swith,  what  tale  es  ]>at  ? " 
He  sayd  :   "  Sir,  gif  ]>i  son  respite,    [38  c]  2405 

And  I  sal  tel  it  }>e  ful  tyte." 
J>e  Emperoure  granted  ;  ]>e  child  was  fet, 
And  sone  ogayn  in  p/rsown  set. 
J>arfor<?  wele  payd  was  mani  man. 
And  Cato/m  pus  his  tale  bigan.  2410 

TStory  X.T 
L    Avis.    J 

J>e  Tend  Tale  Sayd  Mayster  Cato/m. 

Catown  said :   "  Sir,  in  this  toun 
Was  a  burias  of  grete  renown. 
Marchand  he  was  of  grete  auer^, 
And  had  a  faire  whif  glad  of  cher^; 

2388  R  hyes,  Emp<froure.  —  2389  R  mowth.  —  2390  R  all,  knyghtes,  cowth.  — 
2391  R  Empm>ur  satt,  full  styll.  —  2392  R  sithen,  Ire,  tyll.  —  2393  R  traytur 
hegh. —  2396  R  defoule.  —  2397  R  thryue.  —  2398  R  yhour. —  2399  R  will 
schende.  —  2400  R  W/t£  outen  assent.  —  2401  R  fall,  vilainy.  —  2403  R  Emp^rour, 
satt.  —  2404  R  Tell.  —  2405  R  said,  gyf,  respyte.  —  2406  R  sail  tell,  full.  —  2407  R 
Emp<?rour  graunted,  fett.  —  2408  R  o  gayne,  prison  sett.  —  2409  R  J?ar  for,  many. 

—  2410  R  Caton.  —  Heading  R  said  maister  Catoune.  —  2411  R  Caton,  toune. 

—  2412  R   gret  renoune.  —  2413  R  Merchad,  gret.  —  2414  R  fair  wif. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  83 

Bot  sho  was  vnder  hyr  gare  2415 

Als  wemen  er  now  widewar^.     ^f-. 

J>e  burias  in  his  hal  had  a  py 

f>at  cowth  tel  tales  ful  properly 

And  ful  fair^   in  Frankis  langwage  ; 

And  it  hanged  in  a  fairer  kage.  2420 

Al  fat  fe  py  herd,  ilka  word, 

Wald  scho  tel  vnto  fe  lord. 

J>e  py  saw  and  wele  vnderstode 

How  fat  anofer  come  and  jode 

Vnto  fe  lady,  als  him  lyst.  2425 

f>e  lord  sho  talde  al  fat  sho  wist. 

f>e  burias  trowed  ful  wele  his  py, 

For  he  hoped  sho  cowth  noght  ly ; 

And  for  f  e  tales  fat  f e  py  sayd 

f>e  whif  had  many  fowl  vpbraid.  2430 

'"So  on  a  day  fel  on  fis  wise: 
f>e  burias  went  with  marchandise 
Intil  fe  cuntre,  for  sertayn ; 
And  fan  fe  wife  was  wonder  fayn ; 
Hir  hor<Mnaist<?r  fan  sent  sho  for*?.  2435 

And  when  he  come  to  fe  hal  dore, 
Into  fe  hal  dorst  he  noght  hy 
For  ferd  of  wreing  of  fe  py. 
J>e  lady  toke  him  by  fe  hand, 

And  said  I  sal  fe  wele  warand.  2440 

J>e  py  was  wele  war  of  fis, 
And  sayd  :  *  Dame,  f  ou  dose  amys. 
Wist  mi  lord,  he  wold  be  wrath, 
And  for  fi  folies  do  fe  skath. 


2415  R  scho,  hir.  —  2416  R  wyde  whare.  —  2417  R  om.  hall  in  body  of  text,  but 
inserts  in  margin.  —  2418  R  couth  tell,  full.  —  2419  R  full  fair,  fnznkys  langage.  — 
2420  R  hynged,  fair  cage.  —  242 1  R  All.  —  2422  R  tell.  —  2424  R  ane  other,  yhode. 

—  2426  R  scho  tald  all,  scho  wyst.  —  2427  R  full.  —  2428  R  scho  couth.  —  2429  R 
said.  —  2430  R  wyfe,  foule  upbrayd. —  2431    R  fell. —  2432  R  rruzrchandyse. — 
2433  R  In  tyll,  contre,  sertayne.  —  2434  R  fayne.  —  2435  R  scho.  —  2436  R  hall. 

—  2437  R  hall  durst.  —  2438  R  wreyng.  —  2439  R  bi.  —  2440  R  sail.  —  2442  R  said. 

—  2443  R  my,  wrathe.  —  2444  R  folyse,  skathe. 

V 


84  THE  SEVEN  SAGES 

f>at  man  cuwes  heder  for  na  gode ;  2445 

My  lord  sal  wit  it,  by  fe  rode.' 

"  f>e  wife  thoght  sho  sold  be  shent, 
Bot  vnto  chamber  forth  J>ai  went. 
J>e  whif  thoght  of  a  gillri, 

How  fat  sho  might  bigile  J>e  py.      [38  d]  2450 

When  al  was  in  bed,  gong  and  aid, 
J>e  hoft?-maister  and  pe  whif  bald 
Set  a  ledder  vnto  ]>e  hall, 
Euyn  ouer  ]>e  cage,  without  J>e  wall. 

"  J>ar<?  fai  made  a  hole  ful  sone ;  2455 

And  when  J»ai  had  thusgater  done, 
J>ai  toke  a  torche  brinand  ful  light, 
And  held  farouer  a  bacyn  bright. 
J>ai  dang  the  bacyn  with  a  wand ; 
J>e  py  for  ferid  was  fast  criand.  2460 

J>e  gle taring  of  ]>e  bacyn  bright 
Wend  pe  py  war  leuyny^g  light. 
J?e  bacyn-beting  made  hir  wonder ; 
Wele  sho  wend  it  had  bene  thonder. 
And  on  )>e  cache  water  ful  cler^  2465 

Powred  fai  out  of  a  pitchers. 
J>e  py  wend  it  had  rayned  parout, 
For  water  fell  so  hir  obout. 
With  water  so  and  torches  light 
Held  pai  fe  py  wakeand  fat  night.  2470 

"On  J?e  morn,  when  it  was  day, 
J>e  hor^-maister  went  his  way. 
J>e  hole  was  opin  on  ]?e  morow,  — 
J>at  made  fam  etter  mekil  sorow,  — 


2445  R  comes  hyder,  no  gude.  —  2446  R  sail,  be.  —  2447  R  scho  suld,  schent.  — 
2448  R  chaumbre  f urth.  —  2449  R  wife,  gylry.  —  2450  R  scho  myght  begyle.  — 
2451  R  all,  yhong.  —  2452  R  wife.  —  2453  R  Sett.  —  2454  R  Euen.  —  2455  R  full. 
—  2456  ^  thusgate.  —  2457  R  brynand  full  lyght. —  2458  R  >are  ouer,  bryght.— 
2460  R  ferd,  cryand.  —  2461  R  glyteryng,  bryght.  —  2462  R  leuenyng  lyght.  —  2463 
R  betyng.  —  2464  R  scho,  thoner.  —  2465  R  kage,  full.  —  2466  R  pycchere.  —  2467 
R  >are  out.  —  2469  R  lyght.  —  2470  R  wakand,  nyght.  —  2473  R  open.  —  2474 
R  mykell. 


THE  SEVEN  SAGES  85 

And  ]?e  ladder  als  lay  still ;  2475 

Bot  men  toke  litel  tent  fartill. 

f>e  day  was  cuwen  and  night  was  gane ; 

]>e  py  hir  shoke  and  made  hir  mane, 

J?at  sho  had  neuer  so  euyl  rest 

Sen  sho  come  out  of  hir  nest.  2480 

At  morn  }?e  lord  come  hame  ogayn  ; 

pan  was  f>e  py  ferly  fayn. 

And  als  sone  als  sho  hym  herd, 

Sho  asked  hym  how  fat  he  ferd.  • 

'Wele,'  said  ]>e  burias  ;   'how  feres  ];ou  ? '  2485 

'Sertes,'  sho  said,   'neuer  wer  ]?an  now. 

Bot,  sir,'  sho  said,   'bi  Goddes  myght, 

J>e  lichowre  has  bene  here  al  night, 

Vp  in  ]?e  chamber  with  our<?  dame, 

Ay  whils  fat  ge  war  fra  hame.  2490 

And,  sir,   it  has  rayned  al  f>is  night 

And  thonord  fast  with  leueny/zg  bright. 

So  wikked  weder  was  fareout 

J>at  had  I  neuer  so  mekil  dout.' 

When  fe  py  had  ]msgat  sayd,  2495 

J>e  gudeman  held  him  nothing  payd. 

Ful  felly  loked  he  on  his  wiue       [39  a] 

And  hastily  bigan  to  stryue. 

'Sir,'  said  ]?e  whif,  'fou  dose  outrage 

To  trow  so  on  a  py  in  kage.  2500 

J>e  weder  was  J>is  night  ful  faire, 

And  nanekins  noys  was  in  fe  ayr<? ; 

Bot  of  J>e  mone  and  sternes  bright 

Sais  ])Q  py  was  leueny^g  lyght. 


2475  R  styll.  —  2476  R  lytell,  \>ar  tyll. — 2477  R  comen,  J>e  in  place  of  and, 
nyght.  —  2478  R  schoke.  —  2479  R  scho,  euell.  —  2480  R  scho.  —  2481  R  o  gayne. 
—  2482  R  fayne.  —  2483  R  al  sone,  scho  him.  —  2485  R  fars.  —  2486  R  scho.  — 
24^7  R  scho,  be  godes. —  2488  R  lychoure,  all  nyght.  —  2489  R  chaumbre.  — 
2490  R  yhe.  —  2491  R  all;  last  three  letters  of  nyght  worn  off.— -2492  R  last 
four  letters  of  bryght  worn  off.  —  2493  -^  wicked.  —  2494  R  mykell.  —  2495  -^ 
Jmsgate.  —  2496  R  gud  man.  —  2497  R  ff ull,  wyue.  —  2499  R  wife.  —  2500  R  sa.  — 
2501  R  nyght,  fayre.  —  2502  R  nanekyns. —  2503  R  bryght.  —  2504  R  Says. 


86  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

Also  fe  py  to  gow  me  wries,  2505 

Now  may  56  wit  fat  al  es  lyes. 

Bot  I  be  venged  on  fe  py 

J>at  has  me  said  swilk  velany, 

I  sal  neuer  be  glad  ne  blith.' 

J>an  fe  burias  gert  alswith  2510 

Cal  al  his  menje  bifor^  his  sight, 

And  asked  what  weder  was  fat  night  — 

If  it  was  owfer  thonorc  or  rayn. 

J>ai  said :   '  Nay,  sir,  for  sertayne, 

It  was  weder,  wele  we  knaw,  2515 

Als  fayr^  als  any  of  scy  might  blaw.' 

"f>e  burgas  sais  fan  fat  fe  py 
Sold  be  lered  na  mar<?  to  ly. 
Na  ma  wordes  farof  he  spak, 

Bot  toke  fe  brid  and  brak  fe  bak.  2520 

J>us  hastily  fe  py  was  slane. 
Bot  him  forthoght  it  sone  onane: 
Als  he  went  obout  murnand, 
To  fe  hal  he  saw  a  ledder  stand; 
Vnto  fat  ledder  toke  he  tent,  •      2525 

He  had  grete  meruayl  what  it  ment. 
Vp  on  heght  he  gan  him  hi, 
And  f ar^  he  fand  al  f e  gilry ; 
Al  he  fand  far<?  in  fat  stede 

J>at  gert  his  py  be  done  to  ded.  2530 

If  he  war  wrath,  na  wonder  was. 
Doun  ogayn  sone  gan  he  pas. 
He  toke  a  staf  was  gude  and  grete, 
And  fe  wife  wele  gan  he  bete. 
He  flemed  hir  fan  for  hir  foly,  2535 

2505  R  All  so,  yhow,  wryes.  —  2506  R  yhe  witt,  all.  —  2509  R  sail,  blyth.— 
2510  R  all  swith.  —  2511  R  Call  all,  meneyhe  be  for,  syght.  —  2512  R  nyght.  — 
2513  R  war  ouiher  thonur,  rayne. —  2516  R  fair,  o  sky  myght.  —  2517  R  buriase. 

—  2518  R  Suld,  no  more.  —  2519  R  bare  of.  —  2520  R  byrd.  —  2523  R  mornand. 

—  2524  R  hall.  —  2526  R  A«d  had  gret  rrurmaile.  —  2527  R  hy.  —  2528  R  all, 
gylry.  —  2529  R  All.  —  2530  R  dede. —  2531^  no.  —  2532^  Doune  o  gayne. — * 
2533  R  A  toke  a  stafe  well  gud.  —  2535  R  Only  med  remains  of  first  two  words*. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  87 

With  wa,  als  sho  was  wele  worth! ; 
Sho  lered  hir  lord  vnlefeful  lawes, 
To  sla  his  py  for  hir  soth  sawes. 

"J>is  gudeman  trowed  ouer  wele  his  wife, 
And  als  himself  was  ouer  hastife."  2540 

Catown  sayd :   "  Sir,  bi  my  berde, 
Es  none  so  wise  man  in  midlerd 
J>at  ne  a  woman  cowth  bygyle, 
And  bring  him  into  grete  perile.     [39  b] 
And,  sir,  if  fat  fou  trowes  ]>i  wife       y  2545 

And  for  hir  reues  J>i  son  his  life, 
To  ]>e  moght  fall  slike  velany 
Als  did  ]>e  burias  of  his  py." 
f>e  Emperoure  said:   "So  mot  I  go, 
Of  me  sal  noght  bifal  so."  2550 

With  pis  carping  come  fe  night ; 
Fra  court  went  bath  clerk  and  knyght. 

Here  Bigins  f>e  Elleuynd  Prolong. 

When  al  war  past  out  of  ]>at  place, 
f>e  Emperowrt  to  chamber  gase. 

J>e  Emp^nce  }>arin  he  fand,  2555 

Makand  ful  sari  sembland. 
"Dame,"  he  said,  "what  ayles  )>e  now?" 
"Sir,"  sho  said,   "neuer  rekkes  J?ou. 
f>ou  wil  noght  venge  me  on  my  fa, 
And  ]?arfor<?  wil  I  wend  ]>e  fra  2560 

Vnto  my  kyn  J?at  er  me  der<?, 
And  neuermar<?  to  negh  fe  ner<?. 
For  me  es  leuer  to  wend  my  way 

2536  R  Only  a  remains  of  first  two  words ;  R  scho.  —  2537  R  Sc  of  Scho 
faded,  unlefull.  —  2538  R  The  T  of  To  illegible.  —  2539  R  gud  man.  —  2540  R 
hastyfe.  —  2541  R  Caton  said,  be,  herd.  —  2542  R  mydlerth.  —  2543  R  couth 
be  gyle.  —  2544  R  bryng,  gret  peryle.  —  2545  R  trow.  —  2546  R  reue,  lyfe.  —  2547  R 
mot,  swilk  vilany.  —  2549  R  EmpmDur. —  2550  R  sail,  bi  fall.  —  2551  R  carpyng, 
nyght.  —  2552  R  both.  —  Heading  R  bigyns,  MS.,  R  xi.  —  2553  R  all.  —  2554  R 
Emp^-our,  chaumber.  —  2555  R  >are  in.  r—  2556  R  full  sary  semebland.  —  2558  R 
scho,  yhow.  —  2559  R  will,  of.  —  2560  R  J?arfor  will.  —  2562  MS.  neght. 


88  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>an  dwell  in  dole  bath  night  and  day." 

He  said  :   "  Dame,  if  I  haue  mysdone,  2565 

Say  me,  and  I  sal  mend  it  sone." 

Sho  said  :   "  It  helpes  noght  for  to  neuy«  ; 

For  fe  sal  shende  pi  Maisters  Seuyn, 

J>at  pou  trowes  and  tentes  vntill, 

And  spares  him  fat  pe  sal  spill.  2570 

f>arfor<?  to  pe  mot  fal  swilk  thing 

Als  bifel  vnto  Herod  pe  kyng, 

J>at  tynt  his  sight  for  euil  kownsail. 

Sir,  pis  tale  may  pe  mekil  auayl." 

"Dame,"  he  said,   "pan  pray  I  pe,  2575 

J>is  ilk  tale  now  tel  to  me." 

"Sir,"  sho  said,   "with  ful  gude 

God  len  gow  grace  wele  it  to 

|-  Story  XI.-j 
LSapientes.J 

f>e  Elleuynd  Tale  Sayd  J?e  Wyfe. 


"Syr,  whilom  was  ane 
J>at  led  hys  life  with  grete  honours;  2580 

Herod  was  pe  Empm>ures  name, 
A  mighty  man  of  nobil  fame. 
He  had  with  him  seuyn  clerkes  of  pme, 
Als  56  haue,  fat  ge  hald  so  whise. 
Whatsoeuer  come  him  in  thoght,  2585 

Eiter  pair^  kounsail  al  he  wroght. 

"  J>a  seuyn  clerkes  gan  vprayse     [39  c] 
A  custume  fat  was  noght  to  prays  : 
J>at  whaso  dremyd  any  nyght, 

And  come  vnto  fe  clerkes  ful  right  2590 

And  broght  a  besant  til  ofring, 

2564  R  both  nyght.  —  2566  R  sail.  —  2567  R  Scho,  neuen.  —  2568  R  sail 
schende,  seuen.  —  2569  R  vn  tyll.  —  2570  R  sail  spyll.  —  2571  R  J>arfor,  fall.  — 
2572  R  bi  fell.  —  2573  R  syght,  euell  counsaile.  —  2574  R  mykell  auaile.  —  2576  R 
tell.  —  2577  R  scho,  full  gud.  —  2578  R  >e.  —  Heading  MS.,  R  xi.,  R  said.  —  2579 
R  Sir.  —  2580  R  his  lyfe,  gret.  —  2581  R  Emp^rours.  —  2582  R  myghty,  noble.— 
2583  R  seuen,  pryse.  —  2584  R  yhe,  yhe,  wyse.  —  2586  R  After  >air  counsail  all. 
—  2587  R  seuen.  —  2588  R  custom,  prayse.  —  2589  R  who  so  dremed.  —  2590^? 
full  ryght.  —  2591  R  besand  tyll  offryng. 


THE   SEVEN  SAGES  89 

And  tald  fe  clerkes  of  pair*  dremyng, 

J>e  clerkes  parto  sold  tak  entent 

And  tel  fam  what  pair*  dremes  ment. 

Sum  was  soth,  and  sum  was  lese.  2595 

Vntil  pam  come  ful  mekil  prese, 

Bath  of  pe  toun  and  of  cuntre, 

For  to  wit  what  pair*  dremes  might  be ; 

Lordes  pam  soght  fra  diuers  land, 

And  ilkane  broght  pam  a  besand.  2600 

So  lang  pai  lifed  in  pis  errowr*, 

f>ai  war  richer  fan  pe  Empm)wr*. 

"]?e  Empm>wr*  opon  a  day 
Thoght  he  wald  wend  him  to  play ; 
Out  at  pe  sate  als  he  gan  ride,  2605 

With  hys  men  on  ilka  side, 
He  bycome  blynd  als  a  stane  ; 
And  sent  etter  pe  clerkes  onane. 
He  asked  pam  what  made  him  blynd, 
Bot  pai  cowth  nanekyn  reson  fynd.  2610 

f>ai  asked  respite  four  skor*  nyght, 
For  in  pat  space  pai  hoped  pai  myght 
In  pair*  bokes  find  sum  skill  whi 
J>at  he  was  blynd  so  hastily. 

J>e  Empm)wr*  went  hame  ogayn ;  2615 

And  ]>Q  clerkes  did  al  pair*  payn 
In  pair*  bokes  for  to  fynd 
Why  J>e  Emp*rowr*  was  blind. 

"Opon  a  day  sone  efter  fan, 
J>e  clerkes  met  with  an  aid  man ;  2620 

2592  R  J?air.  —  2593  R  J>are  to  suld.  —  2594  R  tell,  J>air.  —  2595  R  Som.  —  2596 
R  vn  tyll,  full  mykell.  —  2597  R  Both,  toune,  centre.  —  2598  R  witt,  }>air.  —  2599 
R  diverse. —  2601  R  lyfed,  arroure.  —  2602  R  rycher,  Emp^oure.  —  2603  R 
Emp^rour.  —  2605  R  yhate,  ryde.  —  2606  R  his,  ylka  syde.  —  2607  ^  be  come, 
any  stane.  —  2610  R  couth  nonekyn.  —  2611  R  respyte  a  seueh  nyght.  —  2613  R 
J?air,  fynd  som  skyll.  —  2615  R  Emp^rour,  o  gayne.  —  2616  R  dyd  all  J>air  mayne. 
—  2617  R  J?air,  fynde.— 2618  R  Whi,  Emp^rour,  blynde.  — 2620  R  mett,  ane 
old.  The  two  folios  of  R  -which  shotild  come  here  (and  be  numbered  124,  125)  are 
incorrectly  placed  after  folio  125  (and  so  are  numbered  126,  I2j}.  Folios  124,  125 
according  to  the  numbering  of  R  should  come  just  before  folio  fjo. 


go  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

To  him  pai  talde  al  pain?  cownsayl, 

And  he  said  :   '  Sirs,  withowten  fayl, 

J>anr  es  no  man  )>at  now  life  hase 

J>at  can  gow  cownsail  in  pis  case, 

Bot  a  childe  pat  es  faderles ;  2625 

And  I  can  noght  say  whan?  he  es. 

He  can  gow  tell  ful  properly 

What  gown?  asking  sal  sygnyfi.' 

"J>e  maystars  wald  no  lenger  byde, 
To  seke  pe  chyld  fast  gan  pai  ride.  2630 

Sum  rade  est,  and  sum  rade  west, 
Whan?  pai  hoped  to  fynd  him  best. 
A  fourtenyght  pus  gan  pai  ride, 
And  soght  pe  childe  on  ilka  syde.     [39  d] 
At  pe  last  rade  pai  thurgh  a  town  2635 

Whan?  childer  played  pam  vp  and  down ; 
J>ai  saw  a  childe  pan?  bete  anoper, 
And  called  him  lurdan,  deuils  broper: 
*  J>ou  ert  pe  deuils  son  of  blode ! 
f»ou  dose  ay  euil  and  neuer  gode  !  2640 

Faderles  lurdan  I  pe  call!' 
J>arof  record  bar^  pai  all. 

"  Twa  of  pe  may  stars  herd  ful  wele 
Al  pain?  fliting  ilka  dele. 

Merlyn  saw  he  was  aspied,  2645 

And  fast  he  said  his  felows  lied; 
He  said :  « I  se  twa  clerkes  hen? 
f>at  has  me  soght  on  sides  fenr; 
J>ai  wil  haue  me  vnto  Rome 
Of  sertayn  poyntes  to  gif  pam  dome.'  2650 

2621  R  tald  all  J?air  counsail.  —  2622  R  w/tfc  outen.  —  2623  R  lyfe.  —  2624  R 
kan  yhow  counsail. — 2625^  child.  —  2626  R  kan.  —  2627  R  kan  yhow,  full. — 
2628  R  yhowr  askyng  sail  signify.  —  2629  R  maisters. —  2630  R  child,  ryde.— 
2631  R  Som,  som.  —  2633  R  ryde.  —  2634  R  child.  —  2635  R  toune.  —  2636^? 
playd,  doune.  —  2637  R  child,  ane  other.  —  2638  R  cald,  deuels.  —  2639  R  deuels. 
—  2640^  euell,  gude. —  2642  R  )>are  of. —  2643  R  maist^rs,  full.  —  2644  R  All 
>air  flytyng.  —  2645  R  aspyed.  —  2646  R  lyed.  — 2648  R  sydes.  —  2649  R  will.  — 
2650  R  sertaine,  gyf. 


THE  SEVEN   SAGES  91 

f>e  maisters  come  fan  to  fe  childe, 

And  spak  vnto  him  wordes  milde  : 

'Childe,'  ]>ai  said,  'what  es  fi  name?' 

'  Merlyn,'  he  sayd,  *  I  hat  at  hame.' 

So  come  a  gudeman  of  fe  land,  2655 

And  broght  a  besand  til  ofrand. 

To  Merlyn  he  it  gaf  in  hi, 

And  he  said :   '  Sir,  f  ou  ert  hasty 

For  to  wit  ]ri  dremyng  sone  ; 

f>at  might  ger  fe  be  vndone.  2660 

Bot  sen  fou  prefers  me  ]>is  mede, 

J>i  dreme  I  am  redy  to  rede. 

"  *  J>e  thoght  pou  saw  in  f  i  myding 
A  fain?  well  and  water  vp  spryng ; 
J>e  water  was  of  swete  sauowr;,  2665 

And  serued  )>e  and  ]>i  neghbounr. 
It  menes  pus :  par  in  fat  molde 
Es  a  grete  hurd  al  of  golde ; 
In  pi  midding  ]>is  find  pou  may. 
Go  we  peder  sone  and  assay.'  2670 

With  pe  man  went  pai  al  bidene, 
To  loke  if  pis  sold  soth  be  sene. 
When  pai  come  to  pe  mydyng, 
J>e  childe  gert  hakkes  and  spades  bring. 
Down  in  pe  grund  a  hole  pai  grayd ;  2675 

pai  fand  a  hord,  als  he  had  sayd, 
J>at  was  al  ful  of  rede  guide. 
J>e  gudeman  bad  tak  what  pai  wolde ; 
And  in  fat  town  ilka  neghbowr* 
Made  he-  riche  with  fat  tresowr*?.  2680 

f>e  maysters  toke  gold  at  f air*  likyng ;     [40  a] 

0 

2651  R  chid.  — 2652  R  myld.  — 2653  R  Child.  — 2654  R  said,  hate.  — 2655  R 
gud  man.  —  2656  R  tyll  offrand.  —  2657  R  hy.  —  2659  R  witt.  —  2660  R  myght.  — 
2663  R  myddyng.  —  2664  R  fair.  —  2665  R  sauoure.  —  2667  R  mold.  —  2668  R  gret 
hord  all,  gold.  —  2669  R  myddyng,  fynd.  —  2670  R  >ider.  —  2671  R  all  bi  dene.  — 
2672  R  suld.  —  2673  K  myddyng.  —  2674  R  child,  bryng.  —  2675  R  Doune,  ground. 

—  2677  R  all  full,  red  gold.  —  2678  R  gud  man,  wold.  —  2679  -^  toune,  neghbo«re. 

—  2680  R  rych,  tresoure.  —  2681  R  maist<?rs,  }>air  lykyng. 


92  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

Bot  Merlyn  wald  farof  nathing. 
f>e  maist^s  went  to  Rome  ogayn, 
And  toke  with  ]>am  ]?at  lytel  swaine. 

"Als  pai  went  opon  ]>airc  way,  2685 

J>ai  asked  fe  childe  if  he  kowth  say, 
Or  any  sertayn  reson  fynd, 
Why  fe  JLmperoure  was  blynd. 
Merlyn  said :   '  ga,  sekerly, 

I  can  gow  tel  encheson  why.'  2690 

J>an  war  ]>e  maisters  wonder  blyth, 
And  vnto  Rome  pai  hied  ]?am  swith. 
When  }>e  day  come  J>at  fam  was  set, 
To  courd:  ]>ai  come  withow[t]en  let ; 
And  to  ]>e  Emp<?rour^  gan  }>ai  say :  2695 

'Sir,  we  er  cumen  to  hald  our<?  day.' 
He  said  :   '  Can  ge  tel  myne  askyng  ? ' 
'Nay,  syr,'  ]?ai  sayd,   'by  heuyn  kyng ; 
Bot  here  a  child,  syr,  haue  we  broght, 
J>at  can  tel  gow  al  yowre  thoght.'  2700 

J>e  Empm>ur*  said :   '  Wil  ge  warand 
His  answer  opon  lyfe  and  land  J ' 
«§a,  sir,'  J>ai  said,   'opon  al  thyng 
We  vndertak  hys  answeryng.' 

J>e  Emp^rour^  said:   'Tel,  if  ]>ou  can.'  2705 

J>e  child  said :   '  Gose  to  chamber  )>an, 
And  }me  sal  I  tel  gow  ful  right 
Why  ]>at  je  haue  lorn  gowr<?  sight.' 

"  Into  ]>e  chamber  fai  went  onane, 
f>e  Emp^rowr<?  and  ]?e  clerkes  ilkane.  2710 

2682  R  )>are  of.  —  2683  R  o  gayne.  —  2684  R  lytell  swayne.  —  2685  MS.  And, 
R  >air.  —  2686  R  child,  couth.  —  2687  R  sertaine.  —  2688  R  Whi,  Empmmr.  — 
2689  7?  yha  sikerly. —  2690^  kan  yhow  tell.  —  2691  R  blythe.  —  2692  R  hyed, 
swythe.  —  2693  R  sett.  —  2694  MS.  with  owen,  R  court,  w/t/fc  outen  lett.  —  2696  R 
comen,  our.  —  2697  R  kan  yhe  tell.  —  2698  R  sir,  said  be  heuen.  —  2699  R  sir. — 
2700  R  kan  tell  yhow  all  yhowr.  —  2701  R  Emp<frour  sayd  will  yhe.  —  2703  R  Yha, 
all.  —  2704  R  his.  —  2705  R  Emp,?rour,  tell,  kan.  —  2706  R  chaumbre.  —  2707  R 
Sail,  tell  yhow  full  ryght.  —  2708  R  Whi,  yhe,  yhoz/r  syght.  —  2709-11  R  torn  or 
faded  for  the  first  six,  three,  and  one  letters  respectively.  —  2709  A'  chaumber. 
—  2710  R  [E]mp<?rour. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  93 

Opon  his  bed  he  set  him  down, 

And  bad  fe  child  say  his  resown. 

'Sir,'  said  Merlyn  to  }>e  Empm)ur<?, 

'  Vnder  f  i  bed  in  fis  bowre, 

In  fe  grunde  ful  depe  far  down,  2715 

Es  an  welland  calderowne, 

With  seuen  wajmeis  day  and  nyght  ; 

And,  sir,  fat  has  fe  reft  fi  syght. 

Ai  whils  fa  walmes  boyland  bene, 

Sal  pou  neu^r  with  eghen  sene  ;  2720 

J>a  walmes  if  men  fordo  myght, 

pan  sal  fine  eghen  be  fain?  and  bright.' 

"f>e  Emperoure  had  wonder  of  fis. 
Sone  gert  he  remu  his  bed,  iwis, 

And  in  fe  erth  fai  delued  down  2725 

Vntil  fai  come  to  fe  caldrown 
f>at  had  walmes  boiland  seuyn  ; 
J>an  trowed  fai  wele  fe  childes  steuyw.    [40  b] 
J>an  sayd  fe  Empmmre,  san  fayl  : 
'Childe,  I  wil  do  fi  cownsayl.  2730 

Say  me  son  by  sum  resowne 
What  bymenes  fis  calderowne.' 

"f>e  childe  said:   'Sir,  withowten  dout, 
Biddes  fe  maisters  wend  f  arout  ; 

J>an  sal  I  tel  gow  fe  tale  til  ende.'  2735 

J>e  Empmnir<?  bad  fai  sold  forth  wende  ; 
J>arin  lete  he  no  man  dwell. 
f>an  f  e  childe  bigan  to  tell  ; 
'Sir,'  he  said,   'fir  walmes  seuyn 

seuyn  maysters  bitakens  euy/z  ;  2740 


27  1  1  R  sett,  doune.  —  27127*?  resoune.  —  27147?  boure.  —  27  1  5  R  ground  full, 
}>are  doune.  —  2716  R  a,  calderoune.  —  2719  R  Ay.  —  2720  R  Sail.  —  2722  R  sail, 
fair,  bryght.  :  —  2723  R  Emp<?rour.  —  2724  R  remew,  I  wys.  —  2725  R  doune.  — 
2726  R  vntill,  calderoune.  —  2727  R  boyland  seuen.  —  2728  R  steuen.  —  2729  R 
said,  Emp^rour  sazfayl.  —  2730  R  Child,  will,  counsail.  —  2731  R  be  som  resoune. 
—  2732  R  bi  menes,  calderoune.  —  2733  R  child,  sr  wz't/*  outen.  —  2734  R  Byddes, 
wendes  bare  out.  —  2735  R  sail,  tell  yhow,  till.  —  2736  R  Empmsur,  suld.  —  2737 
R  bare  in.  —  2738  R  child.  —  2739  R  seuen.  —  2740  R  Yhour  seuen  maist^s  be 
takens  euen. 


94  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>ai  haue  raysed  custums  new 

J>at  ge  may  ful  sare  rew. 

Yf  ani  dremes  day  or  night, 

J>ai  sal  cum  sone  bifor<?  fair<?  syght 

And  bring  a  besant  to  ofryng,  2745 

And  gif  it  for  fair  dreme  redeing : 

J>ai  rede  fe  dremys  fan  als  faw  likes; 

gowr<?  maisters  )>us  fe  men  biswikes. 

And  for  fis  syn,  sir,  wele  I  finde, 

Er  fine  eghen  bicomen  so  blynde.'  2750 

"  J>e  Emp<?rour<?  sayd :  '  Sen  it  es  so, 
Sai  me  what  es  best  to  do.' 
J>e  childe  said :   '  Sir,  for  jowr<?  byhoue, 
By  ane  of  fam  I  rede  je  praie. 
If  fat  fe  eldest  sone  be  slane,  2755 

f>e  moste  walm  sal  sese  onane.' 
J>e  Emp<?rour£  bad  his  men  ful'tyte 
J>e  eldest  mayste/-  heuid  of  smyte ; 
And  als  sone  als  fat  ded  was  done, 
J>e  grettest  walme  sesed  ful  sone.  2760 

f>an  gert  fe  Emp^rour^,  sone  onane, 
Sla  fe  maistdrs  euerilkane. 
J>e  water  wex  fan  cald  and  lyth ; 
J>e  Empm>ur<?  fan  was  ful  blyth. 
Merlyn  wasshed  his  eghen  twa ;  2765 

fan  myght  he  se  to  ride  and  ga. 
J>us  had  fe  Empmmr^  his  sight, ' 
And  fe  maisters  lost  fair^  myght. 

"Sir,  fus  er  ge  bigiled  euyn 
And  blinded  by  gowr<?  Maisters  Seuyn.  2770 

2742  R  yhe,  full.  —  2743  R  If  anY»  nyght- — 2744  R  sail  come,  be  for  }>air. — 
2745  R  bryng,  besand  tyll  offryng.  —  2746  R  gyf,  ]>air,  redyng.  —  2747  R  dremes, 
lykes.  —  2748  R  Yhowr,  be  swykes.  —  2749  R  fynd.  —  2750  R  be  comen,  blynd.  — 
2751  R  Emp^rour  said. —  2752  R  Say.  —  2753  R  child,  yhowr  bi  houe.  —  2754  R 
Bi,  red  yhe.  —  2756  R  mast  walme  sail.  —  2757  R  Emperour,  full.  —  2758  R 
maister  heued.  —  2759  R  all  sone,  dede.  —  2760  ^gretest,  full.  —  2761  R  Empmmr. 
—  2763  R  lythe.  —  2764  R  Emp<?rour,  full  blythe.  —  2765  R  wasched.  —  2766^ 
ryde.  —  2767  R  Emp^rour,  syght.  —  2768  R  £air.  —  2769  R  yhe  be  gyld  euen. — 
2770  R  blynded,  yhow,  seuen. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  95 

If  ge  do  eft<?r  ]>air<?  rede, 
Ful  euyl  way  ]>ai  wil  gow  lede. 
So  was  Herod  for  his  trowing 
Nerehand  broght  to  euyl  ending." 

f»e  Emperoure  said:  "Nay,  sertes,  dame,  [400]  2775 
]?ai  sal  neuer  do  me  slike  shame ; 
To  ded  an?  sold  fai  al  be  dyght." 
"Sertes,"  sho  said,   "fan  dose  J>ou  right." 
"Dame,  I  hete  pe  in  pis  stede, 

J>at  mi  son  sal  tomorn  be  dede ;  2780 

par  sal  nane  borow  him  ira  bale." 
f>us  endes  fe  elleuynd  tale. 

Here   Bigins  f>e   Twelft  Prolong. 

Sone  at  morn  bifor  ]>e  sun 
f>e  Emp<?rour<?  rase,  als  he  was  won. 
He  come  omang  his  knyghtes  all,  2785 

And  gert  his  turmentowr<?  furth  call. 
He  bad  his  son  fat  he  sold  bring, 
And  on  ]?e  galows  high  him  hyng. 
For  mani  knightes  and  burias  come 
For  to  her<?  ]>e  childes  dome  ;  2790 

J>e  Empm)ur£  wald  haue  no  rede, 
Bot  said  algates  he  sold  be  ded. 
And  right  so  cumes  into  )>e  hall 
f>e  sest  maister  omang  fam  all. 
He  said :   "  Sir  Emperoure,  lord  of  prz'se,  2795 

In  J>i  werkes  fou  ert  noght  wise ; 
Ilk  man  has  mater  fe  to  blame ; 
Iparoi  ]>e  burd  think  mekil  shame. 

2771  R  yhe,  >air.  —  277 2  R  ffull  euell,  will  yhow.  —  2773  JR  trowyng.  —  2774  R  tyll 
euell  endyng.  —  2775  ^  Emp^rour.  —  2776  R  sail  do  me  na  slyke  schame.  —  2777 
j^suld,  all.  —  2778  R  scho,  ryght.  —  2780  R  my,  sail.  —  2781  R  bare  sail.  —  2782 
R  elleuend.  —  Heading  R  bigyns,  MS.,  R  xii.  —  2783  R  son. —  2784  R  rayse.— 
2786  R  turmentoure  forth.  —  2787  R  suld  bryng.  —  2788  R  hegh.  —  2789  R  many 
knyghtes.  —  2791  R  Emp^rour.  —  2792  R  all  gates,  suld,  dede. —  2793  R  ryght, 
comes.' — 2794  R  sext.  —  2795  R  pryse.  —  2798  R  J>are  of,  mykell  schame. 


96  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

Sen  pat  pou  wil  trow  na  whise  rede, 
Bot  wrang  wil  ger  ])i  son  be  ded,  2800 

J>at  ilk  chance  bifal  to  fe 
Als  fel  a  knyght  of  pis  cuntre 
J>at  hurt  his  whife  finger  w/t/$  a  knif, 
And  for  fat  sorow  lost  hys  life." 
J>e  ILmperoure  said  :   "  On  al  maner<?,  2805 

Maister,  pat  tale  most  I  hen?." 
He  said :   "  Sir,  grant  pi  son  respite, 
And  I  sal  tel  it  pe  ful  tite." 
f>e  Emp<?rour<?  said:   "  Blethly  he  sale." 
And  fan  ]>G  mayster  tald  his  tale.  2810 

rstory  xii.n 

L     Vidua.     J 

f>e   Twelft  Tale  Sayd  Maister  lesse. 

J>e  maister  said :   "  Bi  God  of  might, 
In  pis  cuntre  wond  a  knight 
f>at  wedded  had  a  ful  fairer  whif, 
And  lufed  hir  mor<?  fan  his  life ; 
And  sho  lufed  hiw  wele,  als  him  thoght,  2815 

For  eiter  his  wil  ai  sho  wroght. 
So  on  a  day,  bifor^  his  whife, 
To  pe  knight  was  gifen  a  fetyce  knife ;     [40  d] 
And  als  pai  plaied  with  pe  knif  bar*?, 
A  litel  in  hir  fynger  he  shar^.  2820 

And  when  he  saw  pe  blude  rede, 
For  sorow  he  said  he  sold  be  ded ; 
And  so  he  was  sone  on  pe  morow. 
f>an  pe  whife  made  mekyl  sorow: 
Sho  wrang  hir  hend  and  made  il  cher<?.  2825 

2799  R  will,  wise.  —  2800  R  will,  dede.  —  2801  R  chaunce  bi  fall.  —  2802  R  fell, 
centre.  —  2803  R  wife  fynger,  knyfe.  —  2804  R  his  lyfe. —  2805  R  Emperour.— 
2807  &  graunt,  respyte.  —  2808  R  sail  tell,  full  tyte.  —  2809  R  Emperour,  salle.  — 
2810  R  maister.  —  Heading  MS.,  R  xii.,  R  said.  —  2811  R  Me  for  pe,  be,  myght. 

—  28 1 2  j?  centre,  knyght.  —  28 1 3  R  full  fair  wyf e.' —  28 1 4  R  lyfe.  —  28 1 5  R  scho. 

—  2816  R  will  ay  scho.  —  2817  R  wyfe.  —  2818  R  knyght,  gyfen,  fetyse  knyfe. — 
2819  R  played,  knyfe.  —  2820  R  lytell,  schare.  —  2821  R  blode.  —  2822  A'  suld, 
dede.  — 2823  R  in.—  2824  R  wife,  mykell.  —  2825  R  Scho,  ill. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  97 

J>e  cors  was  sone  broght  on  a  bere, 

With  torches  and  series  fair*?  brinand, 

And  pastes  and  freres  fast  si;/gand. 

For  him  ]?ai  delt  seluer  and  golde ; 

And  sone  he  was  broght  vnder  molde.  2830 

"  When  pe  knight  fus  grauen  was, 
J>e  lady  cried  and  sayd  *  Alias  ! ' 
And  hardily,  sho  said,  na  man 
Sold  mak  hir  fra  J>at  graue  to  gan  ; 
Bot  on  fat'  gra.ue  ai  wald  sho  ly,  2835 

And  for  hir  lordes  luf  wald  sho  dy. 
Al  hir  frendes  gederd  pare 
For  to  cumforth  hir  of  care. 
'Dame,'  ]>ai  said,   'par  charite, 

Of  f»iself  ]>o\i  haue  pete.  2840 

f>ou  ert  fain?  of  hide  and  hew, 
J>ou  may  haue  knightes  nobil  inowe ; 
And  sen  ]>ou  ert  both  gong  and  fayre, 
J>ou  mai  haue  childer  to  be  fine  aire. 
It  es  na  bote  to  mak  murnmg ;  2845 

Al  sal  we  dy  bath  aid  and  sing.' 
f>e  lady  said  oft  styes  :  '  Alias  ! 
Out  of  pis  place  sal  I  neu^r  pas 
Til  I  be  ded  with  him  alswa ! ' 
J?an  hir  frendes  was  ful  wa.  2850 

"  Na  man  might  for  na  preching 
J>e  lady  fra  fe  graue  bring ; 
And  euil  f  am  thogh't  fare  to  dwell ; 
f>arfore  fai  did  als  I  sal  tell : 
J>ai  made  a  loge  fe  graue  biside,  2855 


2827,^  fair  brynand.  —  2828  R  syngand.  —  2829  R  syluer,  gold.  —  2830  R 
mold.  —  2831  R  knyght.  —  2832  R  cryed,  said.  —  2833  R  scho,  mane.  —  2834  R 
Suld,  gane.  —  2835  R  ay,  scho.  —  2836  R  scho.  —  2837  R  All.  —  2838  R  comforth. 
— 2839  R  charyte.  —  2841  R  fair,  hyde. —  2842  R  knyghtes,  In  ...  . —  2843-4  R 
omits  these  lines.  —  2845  R  bute,  mornyng.  —  2846  R  All  sail,  both,  yhing.  — 
2848  R  sail.  — 2849  R  Till,  all  swa.  —  2850  R  full. —  2851  R  No,  myght,  no 
prcchyng.  —  2852  R  fro,  bryng.  —  2853  R  euell.  —  2854  R  J>arfor,  sail.  —  2855  R 
be  syde. 


98  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

'Fra  rain  and  hayl  hir  for  to  hide; 
J>ai  couerd  it  ouer  ilka  dele, 
And  made  a  fire  farm  ful  wele  ; 
Mete  and  drink  fai  broght  plente, 
And  bad  )>e  lady  blith  sold  be.  2860 

Bot  ett  ne  drink  wald  sho  nothing ; 
Euer  sho   cried  and  made  murni^g. 
Hir  frendes  went  oway  ilkane, 
And  )>us  fe  lady  leued  allane. 

"f>at  ilk  day  war  outlaws  thre       [41  a]  2865 

Da;wpned  and  hanged  on  galow  tre, 
And  knightes  war  fai  euerilkane. 
Ful  many  had  fai  robbed  and  slane ; 
J>arfor<?  war  fai  hastily  hent, 

And  hanged  so  by  right  iugement.  2870 

Anofer  knyght  of  fat  cuntre 
Fel  for  to  kepe  fa  theues  thre 
On  fe  galows  al  fat  nyght, 
Als  it  was  resown  and  right. 

For,  sirs,  ge  sal  wele  vnderstand,  2875 

He  gaf  na  ferm  els  for  his  land 
Bot  for  to  kepe  fe  galows  a  night 
When  fare  hang  gentel  me«  or  knight; 
And  if  ani  fan  war  oway, 
His  landes  sold  he  lose  for  ay.  2880 

"J>e  knight  him  cled  in  nobil  wede, 
And  set  him  on  a  stalworth  stede, 
And  went  to  kepe  •  f e  knightes  thre 
f>at  hanged  on  fe  galow  tre. 

f>e  frost  fresed  fast  f arout ;  2885 

J>e  knight  rides  euer  obout, 

2856  R  rayne,  haile,  hyde.  —  2858  R  fyre  >are  in  full.  —  2859  R  drynk.  —  2860  R 
blythe  suld.  —  2861  R  ete,  drynk,  scho  nathing.  —  2862  MS.  shied,  R  scho  cryed, 
mornyng.  —  2865  R  outlawes.  —  2867  R  knyghtes.  —  2868  R  ffull,  MS.  Robbed. — 
2869  R  And  )?arfor. —  2870  R  bi  ryght.  —  2871  R  Ane  other,  centre.  —  2872  R  ffell. 
—  2873  R  a11-  —  2874  R  resowne,  ryght.  —  2875  R  Yhe  sall<  —  2^?6  R  no.  —  2877 
R  nyght.  — 2878  R  gentyll  man,  knyght.  — 2879  R  any.  — 2880  R  suld.  — 2881  R 
knyght,  nobyll.  — 2882  R  sett.  — 2883  R  knyghtes.  — 2884  R  hynged.  — 2885  R 
[)>e  frosjt  frecsed,  J>are  out.  —  2886  R  [J>e  kjnyght  rydes. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  99 

Biside  ]>e  galows  vp  and  down, 

So  was  he  dredand  of  tresown. 

So  grete  cald  come  him  vnto 

J?at  he  ne  wist  what  he  might  do.  2890 

Toward  pe  toun  luked  )>e  knyght ; 

He  saw  a  fire  brin  fair*?  and  bright 

In  ]>Q  kirk-jerd  of  ]>e  town ; 

And  feder  fast  he  made  hym  boun. 

Vnto  )>e  loge  he  come  onane;  2895 

f>e  lady  fare  he  fyndes  allane. 

To  cal  and  speke  wald  he  noght  spar<?. 

J>e  lady  sais  sone  :   '  Wha  es  ]>ar<?  ? ' 

'I  am  a  knyght  J?at  wald  me  warm, 

And  wend  my  way  withowten  harm.'  2900 

f>e  lady  said:   'By  him  me  boght, 

Herin,  sir,  ne  cuwes  ]?ou  noght ! ' 

'  Lat  me  cum  in,  dame,  I  )>e  pray.' 

]?e  lady  said  ful  sadly:   'Nay.' 

'A,  dame,'  he  said,   'me  es  ful  kalde ;  2905 

A  litel  while  wharm  me  I  walde.' 

'Sir,'  sho  said,  'bi  him  me  boght, 

In  ]>is  close  ne  cuwes  pou  noght ! ' 

'  A,  dame,'  he  said,  '  par  chary te, 

J>ar^  sal  na  man  wit  bot  we.'  2910 

J>e  knyght  spak  so  with  J>e  lady 

J>at  in  he  come  and  sat  hir  by,       [41  b] 

And  warmed  him  wele  at  his  will. 

J?e  lady  gret  and  gaf  hir  ill. 

"J>an  said  ]>e  knight  to  hir  in  hy :  2915 

'  Dame,  whi  ertou  so  sary, 
And  whi  ertou  pus  hen?  allane, 

2887  R  .  .  syde,  doune.  —  2888  R  tresoune.  —  2889  R  gret.  —  2890  R  myght.  — 
2891  R  toune  loked.  —  2892  R  fyre  bryn  fair,  bryght.  —  2893  ^  kyrk  yherd,  toune. 
—  2894  R  >ider,  him  boune.  —  2897  R  call,  spek.  —  2899  R  warme.  —  2900  R  w/t£ 
outen  harme.  —  2901  R  be.  —  2902  R  Here  in,  comes.  —  2903  R  com.  —  2904  R 
full.  —  2905  R  full  cald.  —  2906  R  lytell,  warme,  wald.  —  2907  R  scho  —  2908  R 
Here  in  sir  ne  comes. —  2910  R  sail,  witt.  —  2912  R  satt.  —  2914^  grett.  —  2915 
R  knyght.  —  2916  R  ertow.  —  2917  R  ertow. 


100  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

And  so  with  murning  makes  ]>i  mane  ? 

Tel  me,  gude  dame,  I  pe  pray, 

And  I  sal  help  )?e  if  I  may.'  2920 

Sho  said :   « Sir,   I  am  wil  of  rede, 

For  my  lord  es  fra  me  dede, 

And  right  hen?  es  he  laid  in  graue; 

Swilk  a  lord  mun  I  neuer  haue; 

He  lufed  me  euer  ful  stedfastly:  2925 

J>arfor<?  here  wil. I  lif  and  dy.' 

"  J>e  knyght  said :   *  Dame,  fou  ert  a  fole 
f>at  fou  makes  so  mekyl  dole. 
What  helpes  it  so  to  sorow  J>e 

For  thing  ]>at  may  noght  mended  be  ?  2930 

J»iseluen  mai  fou  so  forfare, 
And  him  ogayn  gettes  Jx>u  na  mare. 
I  rede  ]?ou  morn  na  mare  parfore ; 
J>ou  may  haue  ane  worth  twenti  score. 
f>arfore,  dame,  do  efter  me,  2935 

And  lat  now  al  ]>i  rnurni^g  be ; 
I  rede  ]?ou  luf  som  ofer  knyght 
J>at  may  fe  cuwforth  day  and  night.' 
'Nay,'  sho  said,   'sir,  by  Saint  lohn, 
Swilk  a  lord  get  I  neuer  none  2940 

J>at  so  mekil  wil  mensk  me, 
Ne  suffer  my  will  als  did  he. 
For  to  seke  fra  hethin  till  Ynde 
Swilk  a  lord  sold  I  neuer  finde.' 

"When  ]?e  knight  had  warmed  him  a  while,        2945 
He  dred  ]>at  men  sold  do  him  gile, 
To  stele  som  of  ]?e  hanged  men, 
And  ger  him  lose  his  landes  fen. 
He  toke  his  leue  of  f>e  lady, 

2918^  mornyng.  —  2919^  Tell,  gud.  —  2920^  sail.  —  2921  R  Scho,  will. — 
2923  R  ryght,  layd. —  2924  R  mon. —  2925  R  full.  —  2926  R  J?arfor,  will,  lyf. — 
2928  R  mykell. —  2931  R  may.  —  2932  R  getes,  no.  —  2933  R  red,  no.  —  2934  R 
twenty.  —  2935  R  J>arfor.  —  2936  R  latt,  all,  mornyng. —  2937  R  red. —  2938  R 
comforth,  nyght. —  2939  R  scho,  lohan.  —  2940  R  gett.  —  2941  R  mykell  will. 
—  2943  R  fro.  —  2944  R  suld,  fynde.  —  2945  R  knyght.  —  2946  R  suld,  gyle. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  IOI 

And  went  to  his  hors  hastily.  2950 

Vnto  fe  galows  rides  he ; 

And  sone  he  myssed  ane  of  fe  thre. 

pan  was  pe  knyght  ful  sary  man  ; 

He  hopid  to  tyne  his  landes  ilkane. 

He  thoght  wemen  kowth  gif  gud  rede  2955 

Vnto  men  fat  had  grete  nede. 

He  was  noght  fer  fro  f  e  lady ; 

Ogayn  he  rides  ful  hastily. 

He  cald  als  he  bifore  had  done,     [41  c] 

And  in  fan  was  he  laten  sone.  2960 

He  said  he  had  more  sorow  fan  sho, 

And  assed  wat  was  best  to  do. 

Al  fe  soth  he  gan  hir  say 

How  his  o  knight  was  stollen  oway. 

"  J>an  spak  fe  lady  to  fe  knight :  2965 

'  Say  me  fe  soth,  sir,  if  fou  myght, 
If  fou  has  any  whif  at  hame  ? ' 
*  Nay,'  he  said,  'by  swete  Saint  lame, 
Whif  ne  leman  had  I  neuer.' 

'Sir,'  sho  said,   'so  es  me  leuyr ;  2970 

Ful  wele  sal  fou  helped  be, 
If  fat  J>ou  wil  wed  me.' 
'  gis,  dame,'  he  said,   'by  swete  Ihesus  ! ' 
When  fai  had  made  fain?  cownand  J>#j, 
'Sir,  tak  we  vp  J>is  cors,'  sho  sayd, —  2975 

'  J>is  ilk  day  here  was  he  layd,  — 
And  hang  him  vp  for  him  fat  failes.' 
J>e  knight  was  paid  of  fir  counsail^f: 
Out  of  fe  graue  fai  toke  fe  cors  ; 
pe  knight  him  led  opon  his  hors.  2980 

J>an  said  fe  knyght  to  hir  in  hy : 

2951  R  rydes.  —  2953  R  f ull. —  2954  R  hoped.  —  2955  R  couth  gyf.  —  2956^ 
gret.  —  2958  R  Ogayne,  rydes  full.  —  2959  R  be  fore.  —  2961  R  scho.  —  2962 
R  asked  what.  —  2963  R  All.  —  2964  R  knyght.  —  2965  R  knyght.  —  2967  R  haue, 
wife.  —  2968  R  be.  —  2969  R  Wife,  lew  man.  —  2970  R  scho,  leuer.  —  297 1  R  ffull, 
sail.  —  2972  R  will.  —  2973  R  Yhis,  be.  —  2974  R  conand.  —  2975  R  scho  said. — 
2977  R  hyng,  fayles.  —  2978  R  knyght,  payd,  hir  counsayles.  —  2980  R  knyght. 


102  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 


'  Dame,  fou  most  hang  him  sertanli ; 

For  if  fat  I  hanged  a  knight, 

Mine  honors  war  lorn  by  fat  vnright.' 

"  f>e  lady  said  :   *  So  haue  I  sele,  2985 

I  sal  hang  hym  wonder  wele.' 
Sho  did  fe  rape  obout  his  hals ; 
In  hir  faith  sho  was  ful  fals ; 
Sho  drogh  him  vp  and  fest  him  fast. 
<Lo,'  sho  said,   'now  sal  )>is  last.'  2990 

*  Dame,'  said  fe  knight,   'habide  a  stouwd : 
He  fat  here  hanged  had  a  wonde, 
In  fe  forheuyd  wele  to  knaw  ; 
Swilkane  on  fis  byhoues  vs  shaw, 
Or  els  tomorn,  in  lytel  while,  2995 

Wil  be  p^rcayued  al  our*  gile.' 
'Sir,'  sho  said,   'draw  owt  fi  swerde ; 
To  smite  him  thar  fe  noght  be  fered. 
Smite  my  lord  whar<?som  fe  list. 
J>an  sal  noght  fi  man  be  mist.'  3000 

'Nay,  dame,'  he  said,   'for  al  fis  rike 
A  ded  knyght  wald  I  noght  strike.' 
Sho  said :   '  Tak  me  f  i  swerd  fe  fra, 
And  I  sal  merk  him  or  we  ga.' 
He  tald  hir  whar^  fat  sho  sold  smyte,  3005 

And  on  fe  heuyd  sho  hit  him  tite.      [41  d] 

"  f>an  fe  knyght  wele  vnderstode 
J>at  sho  was  cu^en  of  vnkind  blode. 
'Dame,'  he  said,   'by  heuen  rike, 
git  es  noght  fis  fat  ofer  lyke ;  3010 


2982  R  sertainly.  —  2983  R  hynged,  knyght.  —  2984  R  My  honoure,  bi,  vnryght. 

—  2986  R  sail,  him.  —  2987  R  Scho  dyd.  —  2988  R  fayth  scho,  full.  —  2989  R  Scho. 

—  2990  R  scho,  sail.  —  2991  R  knyght  habyde,  stounde.  —  2992  R  hynged,  wounde. 

—  2993  R  forheued.  —  2994  R  bi  houes,  schaw.  —  2995  R  lytell.  —  2996  R  Will, 
p^rsayued  all  our  gyle.  —  2997  R  scho,  out,  swerd.  —  2998  R  smyte,  ferd,  MS. 
lered. —  2999  R  Smyte,  lyst.  —  3000  R  sail,  myst.  —  3001  R  all,  ryke. — 3002  R 
stryke.  —  3003    R    Scho.  —  3004  R  sail.  —  3005  R  scho  suld.  —  3006  R   heued 
scho  hytt,  tyte.  —  3008  R  scho,  comen,  vnkynd.  —  3009  R   be,  ryke.  —  3010  R 
Yhit,  J>e  toiler. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  103 

His  forteth  war  al  smeten  out.' 

'Sir,'  sho  said,   '  ])  arof  no  dowt ; 

Smites  out  his  teth,  biliue,  lat  se.' 

'Nay,  dame,'  he  said,   'so  mot  I  the, 

I  wil  do  him  no  velany  ;  3015 

He  was  a  knyght,  and  so  am  I/ 

J>an  ]?e  whif  sone  toke  a  stane 

And  smate  his  fortheth  out  ilkane. 

When  sho  had  on  ]>is  wise  done, 

Sho  said  vnto  )>e  knight  ful  sone :  3020 

'  Sir,  now  sal  J?ou  wed  me.' 

'Nay,  dame,'  he  sayd,  'so  mot  I  the! 

Kie  wald  I  swer^  to  wed  na  wife, 

Or  I  with  ]7e  sold  lede  my  lyfe ; 

For  feu  wald  hang  me  with  a  cord,  3025 

Right  als  pou  has  done  Jn  lord. 

Swilk  sorow  has  Jxm  shewed  me  now       \ 

J>at  I  sal  neuer  no  wemen  trow.''; 

J>an  said  J?e  maister  to  ]>e  Empm>wr<?: 
"  I  pray  Ih&ru,  our  Sauiowr<?,  3030 

fat  to  fe  fal  slike  velany 
Als  did  ]>is  knyght  of  his  lady, 
If  pou  for  kownsail  of  pi  whife 
Reues  ]>i  fair^  son  his  life. 

Spar^  him,  sir,   vntil  tomorow  ;  3035 

Vnto  hir  sal  fal  al  ]>e  sorow. 
For,  sertes,  sir,  ]>i  son  sail  speke ; 
By  righ[t]wis  dome  ]?an  pou  him  wreke.n 
J>e  Empmmre  said :  "  So  mot  I  gatfg, 
And  I  mai  wit  wha  haues  pe  wrang,  3040 

And  wha  pe  right,  sir,  fan  sal  I 

3011  R  all  smyten.  —  3012  R  scho,  )>are  of  na  dout. — 3013  R  Smytes,  bi  lyue. 
—  3015  R  will,  vilany.  —  3017  R  wife.  —  3018  R  forteth. — 3019  R  scho.  —  3020 
R  Scho,  knyght  full.  —  3021  R  sail. — 3022  R  said.  —  3023  R  wyfe.  —  3024  R 
suld.  —  3027  R  schewed.  —  3029  R  Emp<rroure.  —  3030^  our  sauyoure.  —  3031  R 
fall  swilk  vilany.  —  3033  R  counsail,  wyfe.  —  3034  R  Reue,  fair,  lyfe.  —  3036 
R  sail  fall  all.  —  3038  MS.  righwisdome,  R  Bi  ryghtwis  dome  >ou  sail.  —  3039  R 
Emp<rrour.  —  3040  R  may  witt.  —  3041  R  ryght,  sail. 


104  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

Deme  ]?am  bath  ful  rightwisly." 
]?an  ]>e  mayster  went  hys  way. 
J>us  was  pe  clerk  saued  J?at  day. 

Here  Bygins  f>e  Threttende  Prolong. 

When  it  was  ]>e  tyme  of  nyght,  3045 

J>e  Emperoure  to  bed  hym  dyght. 
J?e  Empmce  als  went  him  tyll ; 
No  word  sho  said,  bot  held  hir  still ; 
And  al  night  thoght  sho  by  what  rede 
J>at  sho  myght  ger  J>e  child  be  dede.  3050 

On  ]>e  morn,  when  day  was  lyght,     [42  a] 
J>e  Empm)ur<?  rase  vp  ful  right. 
Sho  saw  he  wald  no  langer  ly, 
And  vp  sho  rase  ful  hastyly. 

Sho  vmbithoght  hir  of  a  gyn,  3055 

How  ]?at  sho  might  best  bigyn. 
Sho  said :  "  Sir,  herd  ge  neuer  fe  geste, 
Why  men  makes  ]>e  foles  feste  ? " 
"Na,  dame,"  he  said,  "so  mot  I  the! 
If  JK>U  it  wate,  tel  it  to  me."  3060 

"Sir,"  sho  said,  "with  ful  gude  criers; 
A  nobil  tale  her<?  sal  ge  her<?." 

rStory  XIII. "1 
L      Roma.     J 

}?e  Threttende  Tale  Said  f»e  Wyfe. 

'"J>is  cete,  sir,  withowten  dout, 
Was  sumtyme  enseged  obout, 
With  seuyn  hathen  kinges  dai  and  night,  3065 

3042  R  full  ryghtwisly.  —  3043  R  maister,  his.  —  Heading  R  bigyns,  MS.t  R  xiii. 

—  3046  R  him.  —  3048  R  scho,  styll.  —  3049  R  all  nyght,  scho  be.  —  3050  R  scho. 

—  3052  R  Emperour  rayse,  full  ryght.  —  3053  R  Scho.  —  3054  R  scho  rayse  full 
hastily.  —  3055  R  Scho  vm  by  thoght.  —  3056  R  scho  myght.  —  3057  R  Scho, 
yhe.  —  3058  R  Whi. — 3060-2  R  mutilated  for  first  four,  three,  and  one  letters 
respectively,  —  3060  R  tell.  —  3061  R  scho,  full  gud.  —  3062  R  noble,  sail  yhe. — 
Heading  MS. i  R  xiii.,  R  sayd.  —  3063  R  vtith  outen.  —  3064  R  som  tyme.  —  3065 
R  seuen,  kynges  day,  nyght. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  105 

For  to  wyn  yt  if  pai  myght. 

J>ai  made  ful  mani  asautes  fell ; 

Al  Cristendom  pai  thoght  to  quell. 

f>e  Romaynes  J>at  might  wapen  welde, 

Defended  pam  with  spenr  and  shelde ;  3070 

J>e  walles  ful  hardily  pai  held, 

And  mani  hathen  folk  pai  feld. 

Bot  of  pe  Sarezins  had  pai  dowt 

J>at  nane  durst  pas  pe  gates  w/t/^out. 

An  old  man  pan,  of  grete  honours,  3075 

Spak  vnto  pe  Emp<?n>ur*: 

'Sir,  and  pou  wil  do  etter  me, 

A  gude  cownsail  I  sal  tel  pe, 

To  save  pis  cete  and  pi  men.' 

f>e  Empmjur^  said:   *J>at  wald  I  ken.'  3080 

*  To  seuyn  clerkes,  sir,  takes  pis  toun, 


To  geme  it  fra  destrucciowne,  — 
O  payn  to  lose  paire  lyves  all 
If  any  faut  to  pis  toun  fall.' 

"f>e  Empm>ur<?  pan  pe  toun  gan  take  3085 

To  seuyn  maist^s  at  kepe  and  wake. 
A  moneth  pai  it  jemed  wele, 
So  pat  no  man  faut  might  fele. 
When  it  come  to  pe  moneth  end, 
J>ai  might  no  lenger  it  defend.  3090 

fan  ordand  pai  a  fayr^  quayntise ; 
Herkin,  sir,  on  whatkin  wise. 
Lenger  might  pai  noght  wele  last, 
For  pair<?  vetayles  failed  fast ; 

J?arfor<?  pai  ordand,  by  pair^  wit,  3095 

How  pat  pai  might  best  be  quit.     [42  b] 

3066  R  it.  —  3067  R  full  many.  —  3068  R  All.  —  3069  R  Romayns,  weld. — 
3070  R  Offended,  scheld.  —  3071  R  full.  —  3072  R  many.  —  3073  R  sarezyns, 
dout.  —  3074  R  pass,  yhates.  —  3075  R  Ane,  gret.  —  3077  R  will. — 3078  R 
gud  counsail,  sail  tell.  —  3080  R  Emp^rour.  —  3081  R  seuen,  toune.  —  3082  R 
yheme,  destruccioune.  —  3083  R  >air.  —  3084  R  toune.  —  3085  R  Emp<?rour,  toune. 
—  3086  R  seuen.  —  3087  R  yhemed.  —  3088  R  myght.  —  3090  R  myght.  —  3091  R 
ordaind,  fair  quayntyse.  —  3092  R  Herken,  whatkyn  wyse.  —  3093  R  myght.  —  3094 
R  hair  vetailes  f aylest.  —  3095  R  }>ar  for,  ordaind  be  }>air  wytt.  —  3096  R  myght,  quytt. 


106  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

"Ane  of  ]>a  clerkes  hight  Genus; 
He  was  ful  quaynt  and  cautelus  ; 
And  etter  him  es  named  lenuer^, 
J>at  es  a  moneth  of  ]>e  jere.  3100 

A  garment  to  him  gert  he  mak, 
Side  and  wide  and  wonder  blak. 
He  gert  it  dub,  fra  top  til  to, 
With  swerel  tailes  ful  blak  also. 
J>an  gert  he  ordain  a  veser^  3105 

With  twa  faces  and  fowl  of  criers, 
With  lang  noses  and  mowthes  wide, 
And  vgly  eres  on  aiper  syde ; 
With  eghen  )>at  war  ful  bright  and  clen?, 
And  brade  ilkone  als  a  sawsen?;  3110 

With  brade  tonges  and  bright  glowand, 
Als  it  war  a  firebrand. 

"When  he  had  on  Jns  wise  done, 
J>e  folk  of  Rome  he  sembled  sone, 
And  bad  ]?am  fast,  withouten  fayl,  3115 

Ordain  )?am  vnto  batayl. 
Al  ]>ai  answerd  him  vntil, 
J>ai  sold  be  redy  at  his  will, 
On  ]>Q  morn,  with  sheld  and  sperc. 
J?e  maister  fan  dyd  on  his  ger^,  3120 

And  went  vp  in  a  towr^  on  hight, 
Wharc  )>e  Sarzins  se  him  myght. 
His  veser  on  his  heued  he  kest ; 
A  bright  merur^  oboune  he  fest ; 
Twa  swerdes  out  gan  he  brayd,  3125 

And  grete  strakes  obowt  him  laid. 


3097  R  hyght.  —  3098  R  full.  —  3100  R  yhere.  —  3101  R  make.  —  3102  R 
Syde,  wyde,  blake. — 3103  R  till.  —  3104  R  swerell  tayles  full,  all  so. — 
3105  R  ordaine,  visere.  —  3106  R  foule.  —  3107  A'  mouthes  wyde.  —  3108 
W  other,  R  ayther.  —  3109  R  full  bryght.  —  3111  R  bryght.  —  3115  R  fayle. 
—  3116  R  Ordaine,  batayle.  —  3117  R  All,  vntyll.  —  3118  R  suld.  —  3119 
R  scheld.  —  3121  R  in  till  a  toure.  —  3122  R  sarezyns.  —  3123  R  visere.— 
3124  R  bryght  meroure,  W  aboue.  —  3125  R  brayde.  —  3126  A'  gret,  o  bout, 
layde. 


THE  SEVEN    SAGES  107 

He  made  als  mekil  dyn  and  boste 
Als  he  had  foghten  ogayns  an  ost. 

"When  ]>Q  Sarsins  saw  ]>is  meruail, 
f>ai  wald  no  lenger  bede  batayl.  3130 

Sum  wend  for  pe  merun?  lyght, 
J>at  it  war  ane  angel  bright, 
J>at  God  had  sent  peder,  perchance, 
On  ]>am  for  to  tak  vengance. 

So  mekil  light  ]?e  merimr  kast  3135 

f>at  fe  Sarzins  fled  ful  fast. 
f>e  maister  made  slike  nois  omell, 
Sum  hoped  he  war  ]>e  fend  of  hell. 
J>ai  war  so  temped  in  pat  tyde, 
J>ar<?  fai  durst  no  lenger  bide.  3140 

J>ai  opind  ]>an  pe  gates  of  Rome, 
And  Cristend  men  fast  efter  come. 
J>e  Empm)wr<?  and  his  men  ilkane     [42  c] 
Of  fe  Sarezins  slogh  gode  wane ; 
Als  mani  als  ]>ai  might  ouertake,  3145 

Fast  ]>ai  gan  )>air<?  crownes  crake. 
J>ar<?  wan  ]>e  Cristenmen  honowr<?, 
And  mekil  gold  and  gude  armowre. 
J>usgat  Genus,  fat  was  wise, 
Wan  J>e  maystri  by  quaintise.  3150 

"J>e  mayst^rs  of  Rome  and  buriayse 
Said  he  was  worthi  to  prayse ; 
And  none  was  so  worthy  als  he 
Empm>ur<?  of  Rome  to  be. 

And  right  so,  by  ]?air<?  aller  dome,  3155 

f>ai  made  him  Empm^ur^  of  Rome. 

3127  R  mykell.  —  3128  R  ane  oste.  —  3129  R  sarezyns,  m^uaile.  —  3130  R 
bataile.  —  3131  R  Som,  meroure.  —  3132  R  aungell  bryght.  —  3133  R  Jnder  per- 
chaunce.  —  3*134  R  vengaune.  —  3135  ^mykell  lyght,  meroure.  —  3136  R  sarezyns, 
full.  —  3137  R  slyke  noys.  —  3138  R  Som,  fende.  —  3140  R  byde.  —  3141  A'opend, 
yhates.  —  3143  R  Emp<rrou'r.  —  3144  R  sarezyns  )>us  slogh  gud.  —  3145  R  many, 
myght.  —  3146  W  gain,  R  crounes.  —  3147  R  honoure.  —  3148  R  mykell,  gud 
armoure.  —  3149  R  J>usgate,  wyse,  W  Gemis. — 3150  R  maistrt  be  quayntyse. — 
3151  R  maisters.  —  3153  W  om.  was,  R  worthi.  —  3154  R  Empm>ur.  —  3155  R 
ryght,  J?air.  —  3156  R  Emp^rour. 


108  THE    SEVEN    SAGES 

"Sir,  pus  sail  ]>i  maisters  wise 
Decayue  pe  with  pain?  quayntise ; 
And  ]>ou  mu«  be  ful  fayn,  may  fall, 
On  knese  for  to  serue  pam  all.  3160 

I  prai  to  God  it  might  be  so, 
If  }>ou  more  traystes  pam  vnto ; 
For  pai  er  nothing  els  obout 
Bot  to  mak  pe  pair<?  vnderlout. 

J>at  sal  men  se  ful  sone,  I  trow,  3165 

And  piself  sal  noght  wit  how 
Vntil  pou  lose  al  fine  honowre, 
And  sum  of  pam  be  Emperoure. 
§it  war  me  leuenr  pat  pai  so  war<? 
J>an  ]>i  son  pat  greues  me  sar<?."  3170 

lp us  whe«  pe  Emperoure  herd  hir  speke, 
He  said  als  swith  he  sold  hir  wreke, 
And  alsone  sold  his  son  be  slayn. 
Sho  thanked  him  and  was  ful  fayn. 
)?an  out  of  chamber  gan  pai  pas.  3175 

J>us  hir  tale  endid  sho  has. 

Here  Bygins  f>e  Four  tend  Prolong. 

J>e  HLmperoure  pan  went  to  hall. 
His  turmentowres  son  gert  he  call; 
He  bad  pai  sold  let  for  nothing 
His  son  with  scowrges  for  to  dy^g;  3180 

And  when  pat  pai  had  sogater  done, 
He  bad  he  sold  be  hanged  sone :  — 
"So  pat  I  na  mor^  him  se, 
For  mekil  meneyng  makes  he  me." 

3158  R  Desayue,  )>air  quayntyse.  —  3159  K  mon,  full  fayne.  —  3161  R  pray, 
myght.  —  3162  R  trayst  more.  —  3164  W,  R  make,  R  bair.  —  3165  R  sail,  full. — 
3166  R  sail,  wytt.  —  3167  R  vn  tyll,  all,  honoure.  —  3168  ^som.  —  3169  R  Yhit. — 
3172  R  swyth,  suld. — 3173  R  als  sone  suld,  slayne,  W  sone.  —  3174  R  Scho, 
full  fayne.  —  3175  R  chaumbre.  —  3176  A'  ended  scho.  —  Heading  W  om.,  R 
bigyns,  MS.,  R  xiiii.  —  3178  A'  turmentowre  sone.  —  3179  R  suld  lett.  —  3180  A* 
skourges.  —  3181  R  sogate.  —  3182  R  suld,  W  honged.  —  3183  A}  no.  —  3184 
AJ  ffull  mykell. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  109 

J>e  childe  pan  out  of  ]>e  toun  pai  led,  3185 

So  forbeten  pat  he  bled. 

And  right  als  ]>ai  went  with  him  pus, 

So  come  Maister  Maxencius.     [42  d] 

He  sese  his  scolenr  him  bisyde  ; 

He  prays  pe  folk  a  while  to  byde.  3190 

A  while  pai  hight  to  dwel  par<?  still ; 

f>e  toun  ful  fast  he  hies  him  till. 

He  come  bifore  pe  Emp^rour<?, 
And  hailsed  him  with  grete  honowr<?. 
He  sayd  :  "  Sir,  pou  ert  hy  iustise  ;  3195 

J>e  aght  wele  to  be  war  and  wise. 
Me  think  pou  wirkis  to  pi  reproue 
Onence  pi  son,  pat  pou  sold  loue. 
For  a  day  wiltou  be  his  frende, 
Anoper  day  ])ou  wil  him  shende.  3200 

Al  day  mai  men  turn  pi  mode  ; 
So  fares  foles  pat  can  na  gode, 
And  namly  pai  pat  dose  pair<?  dede 
Als  wikked  wemen  wil  pam  rede. 
J>ou  trowes  ouer  wele  pi  wiues  tale,  3205 

pat  es  obout  to  brew  pe  bale. 
If  pi  son  til  tomorn  may  lif, 
For  nankins  gode  pou  wald  him  gif. 
And  if  pou  by  pi  wyues  rede 

Ger  do  pi  son  to  euil  dede,  3210 

Swilk  a  chance  mot  fal  to  pe 
Als  did  ane  erl  of  pis  cuntre. 
He  trowed  mar<?  of  his  wife  a  leghe 
J>an  pat  himself  saw  with  his  eghe." 


3185  R  child,  toune.  —  3187  v£  ryght.  —  3188  JTcom.  —  3191^ dwell,  sty... — 
3192  J?  toune  full,  hyes,  tyll.  —  3193  R  bi  for.  —  3194  AJ  haylsed,  gret  honoure. — 
3195  R  said,  hegh  iustyse.  —  319?  R  wirkes.  —  3198  R  suld.  —  3199  ^  will  K>u. 

—  3200  R  Ane  other,  will,  schende,  JFwilt.  —  3201  R  All,  may.  —  3202  R  kan, 
W,  R  no,  R  gude.  —  3203  R  namely,  J>air.  —  3204  R  wicked,  will.  — 3205  R  wife. 

—  3207  R  till,  lyf.  —  3208  R  nanekyng  gud,  gyf.  —  3209  R  do  instead  of  by,  wyfe, 
W  wiues.  —  3210  R  euell.  —  3211  R  chaunce,  fall.  —  3212  R  dyd,  erell,  centre. — 
3213  R  legh.  — 3214  R  egh. 


HO  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

f>e  Emperoure  sayd :   "Me  think  wele  fan        3215 
J>at  he  was  no  witty  man, 
J>at  his  whife  wordes  trowed  sold  be 
Better  fan  fat  himself  might  se." 
"Sir,"  sayd  fe  maister,   "so  ertow ; 
For  pi  whif  tales  wil  pou  trow  3220 

'~Better  ]>an  any  oper  rede  ; 
And  sho  wald  ger  pi  son  be  ded. 
And  if  he  haue  pis  day  respite, 
Tomorn  he  sal  himseluen  quite. 
J?an  sal  pou  ]>iseluen  se  3225 

Wha  haues  ]>e  wrang,  ]>i  wife  or  he." 

J>e  Emp^rour^  said :   "  Sir,  for  sertayn, 
J>at  wald  I  her<?  and  fat  ful  fayn. 
J>arfor<?,  maistfr,   I  pe  pray, 

fat  ilk  tale  to  me  pou  say,  3230 

Of  fat  erl  fat  pou  of  talde; 
And,  sir,"  he  said,  "pou  mai  be  balde 
J>at  ]>is  day  sal  my  son  noght  dy." 
J>e  mayster  sayd:   "Sir,  gramercy." 

TStory  XIV.-j 
L    Inclusa.    J 

J>e  Fourtend  [Tale]  Said  Maister  Maxenci^.      [43  a] 

"Lord,"  said  pe  maister,  "pis  es  no  ly.  3235 

In  ]>e  kingdom  of  Hungery 
Wond  a  nobil  knyght  whylom, 
A  rightwis  man  and  whise  of  dome. 
He  dremyd  jms  opon  a  nyght, 

f>at  he  lufed  a  lady  bryght,  3240 

Bot  he  ne  wist  in  what  contre 

3215  R  said.  —  3217  R  wife,  suld,  W  he  for  be.— 3218  R  myght.  —  3219  R 
said.  — 3220  R  wife,  will.  —  3222  R  scho,  dede.  — 3223  A'  respyte.  —  3224  R  sail, 
quyte.  —  3225  R  sail,  J>i  self.  —  3226  W  haue.  —  3227  R  Emp^rour,  sertaine. — 
3228  R  full  fayne.  —  3229  R  J?arfor.  —  3231  R  Erell,  tald.  —  3232  A' may,  bald. 
—  3233  A3  sail.  —  3234  A*  J?e  illegible,  maister  said. — Heading  W  om. ;  MS.  om. 
Tale;  MS.,  R  xiiii.  —  3236  A*  kyngdom,  hungry.  —  3237  A'  noble,  whilome,  W 
knight.  —  3238  A*  ryghtwisman,  wise.  —  3239  R  dremed. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  III 

J>at  ]>e  lady  myght  funden  be. 

Him  thoght  he  knew  hir  wele  bi  kinde, 

And  wele  he  hopid  he  sold  hir  finde. 

J>at  same  time  dremyd  fat  ladi  bright,  3245 

And  thoght  J>at  sho  sold  luf  a  knight ; 

Bot  sho  wist  noght  of  what  land, 

Ne  in  whate  stede  he  was  dweland, 

Ne  his  name  knew  sho  nathing  ; 

f>arfon?  made  sho  grete  murnywg.  3250 

Opon  ]>e  morn,  }?e  stori  sayse, 

J>e  knight  toke  horses  and  hernays 

And  went  to  seke  pat  lady  bright 

J>at  him  dremyd  of  pat  nyght. 

J>at  iornay  vnto  him  was  hard,  3255 

For  he  wist  noght  whederward 

J>at  he  sold  tak  pe  redy  way ; 

J>arfor^  he  drowped  night  and  day. 

So  he  traueld  monethes  thre, 

And  no  signe  of  hyr  kowth  he  se ;  3260 

Bot  wele  in  hert  he  hoped  ay 

J>at  he  sold  hir  se  sum  day. 

"So  fer  ]>e  knyght  his  way  had  nome« 
J>at  into  Hungeri  es  he  cumen. 
J>anr  he  findes  a  fair*?  castele,  3265 

Bi  }>e  se-syde,  wroght  ful  wele; 
f>arin  stode  a  towre  ful  hee ; 
Fairer  saw  he  neuer  with  ee. 
An  erl  wond  in  ]>at  castele 

J>at  aght  ]>e  lordship  ilka  dele.  3270 

With  him  he  had  a  worthly  wife, 

3242  W  might,  R  fonden.  —  3243  R  be  kynde. — 3244  R  hoped,  suld,  fynde.— - 
3245  R  tyme  dremed,  lady  bryght.  —  3246  R  scho  suld,  knyght.  —  3247  R  scho. 
—  3248  R  what,  dwelland.  —  3249  Wshe,  R  scho  na  thing.  —  3250  R  )>arfor,  scho 
gret.  —  3251  R  story  says.  —  3252  R  knyght,  harnays.  —  3253  R  bryght.  —  3254^ 
dremed.  — 3255  R  iurnay.  —  3256  R  whider  ward.  —  3257  ^suld.  —  3258  R  J>arfor, 
nyght.  —  3259  R  trauaild. —  3260  R  hir  couth.  —  3262  R  suld,  som.  —  3264  R 
hungry,  comen,  W  om.  es.  —  3265  R  fyndes,  fair.  —  3266  R  full.  —  3267  R  J>are  in, 
toure  full  heghe.  —  3268  R  egh.  —  3269  R  Ane  Erell.  —  3270  R  lordschip.  —  3271 
R  worthi  wyfe. 


112  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>e  fairest  lady  fat  had  lyfe. 

f>e  erl  was  ieluse  of  ]>at  lady  ; 

He  sperid  hir  in  fe  toure  forfi. 

Sho  might  noght  out  by  day  ne  night,  3275 

To  speke  with  swier  ne  with  knight. 

In  fat  land  was  wen?  ful  strang, 

Of  kinges  and  lordes,  fat  lasted  lang. 

J>ar<?  come  ridand  fat  nobil  knight 

f>at  so  had  soght  ]:e  lady  bright ;      [43  b]          3280 

He  luked  vp  vnto  fe  tour^, 

And  saw  fe  lady,  white  so  flowr<?, 

Lig  in  a  window  barred  with  stele. 

J>an  in  his  hert  he  wist  ful  wele 

J>at  fis  lady  was  fe  same  3285 

J>at  he  had  so  dremyd  of  at  hame. 

He  luked  vp  vnto  fe  tour^, 

And  merily  sang  he  of  amowr<?. 

"  And  when  sho  herd  him  so  bigyn, 
Vnnethes  might  fat  ladi  blyn  3290 

J>at  sho  ne  had  cald  him  hir  vnto ; 
Bot  for  hir  lord  sho  durst  noght  do. 
He  sat  biside  vnder  a  tre, 
At  fe  ches,  a  knyght  and  he. 

pis  knyght  p^rcayued  fe  erl  fanr.  3295 

Vnto  fe  lady  he  mened  na  man? ; 
Bot  til  fe  erl  he  rides  ful  right, 
And  of  his  palfray  down  he  lyght. 
On  his  kne  sone  he  him  set, 

And  f e  erl  ful  faire  he  gret ;  3300 

'Sir  Erl,'  he  said,  'I  am  a  knight, 


3272  R  bare  instead  of  had. —  3273  R  Erell.  —  3274  R  sperd.  —  3275  R  Scho 
myght,  bi,  W  be. —  3276  R  squyer,  knyght.  —  3277  R  full.  —  3278  R  kynges. — 
3279  R  rydeand,  noble  knyght.  — 3280  R  bryght.  —  3282  R  whyte,  floure.  —  3283 
IV  Ligge,  R  Lyg,  wyridow.  —  3284  R  full.  —  3286  R  dremed.  —  3288  A'  amoure.  — 
3289  R  scho.  —  3290  R  myght,  R,  W  lady.  —  3291  R  scho.  —  3292  R  scho.  —  3293 
W  gat,  R  satt  be  syde. — .3294  R  chesse.  —  3295  R  p^rsayued,  Erell.  —  3296  R 
no.  —  3297  R  tyll,  Erell  rydes  full  ryght.  — 3298  R  doune.  —  3299  R  knese,  sett. 
—  3300  R  Erell  full  fayr,  grett. — 3301  R  Erell,  knyght. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  113 

Out  of  my  cuntre  cumen  for  fight. 

f>eder  ogayn  dar  I  noght  gane, 

For  a  knight  pare  haue  I  slane. 

J>arfore,  sir,   if  pi  willes  be,  3305 

J?us  am  I  cumen  to  dwel  with  pe. 

My  famen  er  ful  steren  and  stout ; 

J?ai  haue  destroyed  my  landes  obout.' 

"  f>e  erl  said :   '  So  mot  I  pe, 

Right  so  fares  my  famen  with  me;  3310 

So  pat  I  haue  no  socoure 
Bot  pis  castel  and  pis  toure. 
parfore,  sir,  pou  ert  welku^z  here; 
Of  swilk  a  man  haue  I  mystere; 
And  if  pou  wil  me  help  trewly,  3315 

I  sal  pe  gif  grete  mede  forthy.' 
*gis,  sir,'  he  sayd,   'at  my  power, 
Ay  whils  I  my  armes  bere.' 
With  pe  erl  pus  dwels  pe  knight, 
Al  for  luf  of  pe  lady  bryght.  3320 

f>ar  was  na  knight  p#t  bare  shelde 
f>at  might  so  wele  his  wapen  welde. 
Thorgh  strenkith  of  hand  and  Codes  grace 
He  ouercome  al  pe  erles  fase. 

Ipe  erl  him  lufed  and  honord  pan  3325 

Mare  pan   any  oper  man; 

He  made  hym  steward  of  al  his  land,     [43  c] 
And  bad  pe  men  bow  til  hys  hand. 

"  Sone  efter  pat,  opon  a  day, 

J>e  knyght  allane  went  him  to  play,  3330 

Vnder  pe  toure  whare  pe  lady  was  ; 
f>are  he  made  him  grete  solace. 

3302  R  centre  comen,  fyght.  —  3303  R  Hder  o  gayne.  —  3304  R  knyght. — 
3305  R  >arfor.  —  3306  R  comen,  dwell.  — 3307  R  Mi,  full.  —  3308  R  distroyd.  — 
3309  A"  Erell.  —  3312  A*  castell.  —  3313  R  J>arfor,  welcom.  —  3315  R  will.  —  3316  R 
sail,  gyf  gret,  for  thi.  —  3317  R  Yhis,  said,  powere.  —  3319  R  Erell,  dwelles, 
knyght.  —  3320  R  All.  —  3321  R  )>are,  no  knyght,  scheld.  —  3322  R  myght,  weld. 

—  3323  R  thurgh.  —  3324  R  all,  Erell.  —  3325  R  Erell,  honowrde,  W  honourd. 

—  3327  W,  R  him,  R  all.  —  3328  R  till  his.  —  3332  W  There,  R  gret. 


114  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>e  lady  in  a  wyndow  lay, 

And  saw  ]?e  knyght  allane  him  play ; 

A  letter  sone  sho  kest  hym  tyll,  3335 

Wharby  he  might  wit  al  hir  will. 

J>e  knight  toke  vp  ]>e  parchemyne, 

And  red  J>e  Franche  ful  fayr<?  and  fyne ; 

And  alsone  als  he  red  it  had, 

Was  he  neuer  in  hert  so  glad.  3340 

By  }>at  letter  ]>e  knyght  wele  kend 

]?at  his  t/miayl  was  cu^zen  till  end. 

Ful  sar<?  him  langed  to  hyr  at  ga, 

Praiely  withowten  ma ; 

And  wele  he  saw  ]>at,  by  na  gyn,  3345 

Allane  to  hir  myght  he  noght  wyn. 

J>ar  was  bot  a  dur  and  a  way ; 

And  ]>arof  ban?  ]>e  erl  ]>e  kay. 

"  So  on  a  day,  with  mylde  worde, 
J>e  knyght  spekes  vnto  hys  lord,  3350 

And  said :   *  Sir,  of  ]?i  gude  grace, 
I  pray  }>e  to  gif  me  a  place 
Bifor^  ]>is  towr<?,  J»at  I  may  big 
A  litel  place  in  for  to  lig, 

And  pat  I  mai  my  wony^g  haue  3355 

At  myne  ese  if  ge  vowchesaue.' 
J>e  erl  answerd  him  ful  sone : 
1  Sir,  ]>i  wil  sal  al  be  done ; 
Big  |?e  a  hows  at  ]>i  lykyng.' 

J>e  knight  him  thanked  of  ]>at  thing.  3360 

J>e  knight  gat  masons  many  ane, 
And  gert  ]>am  hew  ful  fair^  fre-stane ; 
A  nobil  hows  )>ar<?  gert  he  make 

3335  R  scho,  R,  W  him. —  3336  £FWherby,  R  Whareby,  myght  witt  all.— 
3337  -R  knyght.  —  3338  R  full.  —  3339  R  als  sone.  —  3341  R  Be,  kende.  —  3342  R 
trauaile,  comen  tyll  ende.  —  3343  R  ffull,  till  hir.  —  3344  J-f  Priuely,  Rviith  outen. 
—  3345  R\A.  —  3348  R  Erell.  —  3349^  myld  word.  —  3350^? his.  —  3351  R  gud. — 
3352  R  gyf.  — 3353  R  Bi  for,  toure,  byg.  —  3354  R  lytell,  lyg.  —  3355  R  at  instead 
of  )>at,  W,  R  may.  — 3356  R  yhe  vouche  saue.  —  3357  R  Erell,  full.  —  3358  R  will 
sail  all.  —  3359  R  Byg.  —  3361  W,  R  knyght.  — 3362  JFgrat,  R  full  — 3363  R  noble. 


THE   SEVEN  SAGES  115 

Ful  sone  for  J>e  lady  sake. 

When  it  was  wroght  als  it  sold  be,  3365 

Bath  of  stane  and  als  of  tre, 

J?an  thoght  he  euer  by  whatkyn  gin 

f>at  he  moght  to  ]>e  lady  win. 

"  Biside  }>ar<?,  in  anoper  town,     • 
Was  par*  cuwen  a  new  masown  3370 

pat  soght  had  fra  fer  cuntre ; 
Sotiler  man  might  none  be. 
pe  knyght  vnto  fat  mason  sent ; 
His  messang^rs  wigh[t]ly  war  went.     [43  d] 
pai  broght  him  to  pe  knyght  in  hy ;  3375 

He  hailsed  him  ful  curtaysly. 
pe  knyght  said :  *  Mai  I  traist  on  pe, 
For  to  tel  my  preuete 
f>at  I  haue  aghteld  for  to  do?' 
pe  mason  swar<?  grete  athes  him  to  3380 

J>at  he  sold  whatsom  he  wolde, 
And  neuer  tel  man  on  pis  molde. 

"  He  said :  *  In  pis  tome,  I  tel  pe, 
Wons  a  lady  ]>at  lufes  me ; 

And  I  luf  hir  wele  at  my  might ;  3385 

Bot  I  may,  nowper  day  ne  night, 
Til  hir  win  ne  with  hir  speke. 
parfor*  a  hole  bihoues  pe  breke 
In  pis  towre  ful  preuely, 

pat  no  man  wit  bot  pou  and  I ;  3390 

pat  I  may  cum  in  praiete 
Vnto  J>e  lady  and  sho  to  me.' 
'  Sertes,  sir,'  said  pe  mason  sone, 
'Als  pou  has  said,  it  sal  be  done.' 

3364  R  ff ull.  —  3365  R  suld.  —  3367  R  be,  gyn.  —  3368  R  wy  n.  —  3369  R  Be  syde, 
ane  other  toune.  —  3370  R  comen,  masoune.  —  3371  R  centre.  —  3372  R  myght. 

—  3373  R  masoune.  —  3374  MS.  wighly.  —  3375  W  That.  —  3376  R  full  curtaisly. 

—  3377  W  knight,  W,  R  May,  W  in,  R  trayst.  —  3378  R  tell.  — 3380  R  gret.— 
3381  R  suld,  R,  W  insert  do  after  sold,  R  wold.  —  3382  R  tell,  mold.  —  3383  R 
tell.  — 3385  R  myght.  — 3386  R  nouther,  nyght.  — 3387  R  Till,  wyn.  —  3388  R 
J?arfor.  —  3389  R  toure  full.  —  3390  R  witt.  —  3391   R  com,   W  priuete.  —  3392 
R  scho.  —  3394  R  sail. 


Il6  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

Hastily  he  takes  hys  tole,  3395 

And  in  J>e  toure  he  made  a  hole, 

fat  ]?e  knight  might  cum  ]>e  ladi  vntill, 

Night  and  day,   at  paire  owyn  will. 

When  J7e  lady  wist  of  ]>is, 

Hir  thoght  hir  hert  was  ful  of  blis.  3400 

J>e  knight  quit  wele  pe  seruise 

Of  ]>e  mason  for  his  quayntyse: 

He  slogh  him  sone,  ]>at  ilk  day, 

For  fered  fat  he  sold  oght  say. 

" And  efterward,  ful  sone  onane,  3405 

Into  fe  toure  }>e  knight  gan  gane ; 
Thurgh  ]?e  hole  gan  he  pas, 
Til  he  come  whan?  J>e  lady  was. 
Bitwene  fam  was  grete  ioy  and  blis ; 
In  armes  ful  curtaysly  ]>ai  kys.  3410 

Wele  sho  wist  it  was  )?at  knyght 
J»at  sho  had  dremyd  of  a  nyght. 
Sho  said:   'Sir,  fou  ert  welkuw  hen?.' 
He  said:  'Gramercy,  lady  dere.'    « 
To  hir  he  talde  of  his  dremeing,  3415 

And  sho  him  talde  of  fe  same  thing. 
And  when  ]>ai  wist  it  was  sertayn, 
Ayther  of  o]?er  was  ful  fayn. 
Sho  lete  him  wirk  fare  al  his  will ; 
And  sep en  he  said  \ e  lady  vntyll :  3420 

*  Dame,   I  dar  no  lenger  byde,     [44  a] 
For  herein  may  pou  me  noght  hide. 
And  parfore,  dame,  haue  now  goday ; 
I  sal  cum  ogayn  when  I  may.' 

3395  R  his,  —  3397  R  knyght  myght  com,  vn  tyll,  W  lady. —  3398  W  thair, 
R  >air  awen.  —  3400  R  full,  blys.  —  3401  W,  R  knyght,  R  quyt,  seruyse.  —  3402  R 
masoune,  W  quayntise.  —  3404  W  Forfered,  R  ferd,  suld.  —  3405  W,  R  afterward, 
R  full.  —  3406  R  knyght.  —  3408  R  Till.  —  3409-13  R  illegible  for  first  letter  of 
these  lines.  —  3409  R  blys.  —  3410  R  full  curtasly.  —  3411  R  scho.  —  3412  R  scho, 
dremed.  —  3413  R  Scho,  welcom.  —  3415  R  tald,  dremeyng.  —  3416  R  scho,  tald. 
—  3417  R  sertaine.  —  3418  R  full  fayne.  —  3419  R  Scho,  all,  W  thar. — 3420  R 
sithen.  —  3421  R  lengar.  — 3422  R  hyde.  —  3423  R  J>arfor,  gud  day.  —  3424  R  sail 
com  ogayne. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  1 1/ 

"  f>e  lady,  -  at  ]?aire  dep^rtyng,  3425 

Gaf  J>e  knight  a  gude  gold  ri#g, 
And  said :   '  Sir,  I  pray  to  ]>e, 
When  ]x>u  sese  J>is,  thi^ke  on  me.' 
At  )>e  lady  ]?e  ryng  he  tase, 

And  graythly  til  ]?e  hole  he  gase.  3430 

f>e  ring  he  put  his  fynger  on, 
And  doun  ogayn  he  hied  him  sone, 
Thurgh  ]>Q  hole  was  made  of  stane : 
A  meri  man  fe  knight  was  ane. 
J>e  knyght  went  vnto  ]>e  hall,  3435 

Vnto  ]>e  erl  and  his  menge  all ; 
J>e  erl  gert  him  sit  ful  nere, 
And  to  hym  made  he  meri  chere. 
Als  fai  spak  of  diuers  thing, 

J>e  erl  saw  his  whiues  ring  3440 

Opon  f>e  knyghtes  fyng<?r  bare; 
He  had  wonder  how  it  was  pare. 
He  wist  wele  far  was  none  slike, 
Ne  ]>at  none  might  be  made  so  like. 
And  euer  he  thinkes  in  hert  styll  3445 

How  ani  man  might  come  her  till. 
Styl  he  held  al  in  his  thoght ; 
Vnto  J>e  knyght  he  sayd  right  noght. 
Bot  vp  he  rase  bilyue  onane ; 

Vnto  his  whife  he  thoght  to  gane,  3450 

For  to  wit  whare  hir  ri«g  was. 
f>e  knight  p^rzayued  al  fe  case. 
He  hies  als  fast  als  he  may 
Tite  vntil  hys  praie  way. 


3425  R  hair.  —  3426  R  knyght,  gud,  ryng.  —  3428  R  think.  —  3429  W  hase. — 
3430  R  gnzythely  till.  —  3431  R  ryng,  putt,  one.  — 3432  R  doune  ogayne,  hyed.— 
3434  R  mery,  knyght.  —  3435  W  into.  —  3436  R  Erell,  meneyhe.  —  3437  R  Erell, 
sytt  full.  —  3438  R  him,  mery.  —  3439  R  diu^rse.  —  3440  R  Erell,  wyues  ryng.  — 
3443  R  }>are,  slyke.  —  3444  R  myght,  lyke.  —  3446  R  any,  myght  com,  tyll.  — 
—  3447  R  Styll,  all.  —  3448  R  said  ryght.  —  3449  R  rayse  be  lyue.  —  3450  R  wife, 
JFwhyfe.  —  3451  R  witt,  ryng.  —  3452  R  knyght,  p^rsayued  all.  —  3454  R  vn  tyll 
his, 


Il8  THE  SEVEN   SAGES 


"J>e  erl  hies  to  fe  lady  fre  ;  3455 

Bot  ]>e  knyght  come  lang  or  he. 
Vnto  ]>e  lady  J>e  ring  he  cast, 
And  doun  ogayn  he  hies  him  fast. 
f>e  lady  has  ]>e  ring  up  hent  ; 

Sho  wist  ful'wele  pan  how  it  went.  3460 

Sho  did  it  in  hir  purs  in  horde  ; 
And  sone  parefter  come  hir  lorde. 
And  with  gude  cher<?  he  gan  hir  glade, 
And  asked  hyr  what  chen?  sho  made. 
Sho  said  sho  myght  haue  no  solace,  3465 

So  was  sho  pTrsond  in  fat  place, 
Fra  ]>e  sight  of  alkins  men  : 
'  How  may  I  any  kuwzforth  ken  ?  '     [44  b] 
'Dame,'  said  }>e  erl  ful  sone, 

*  For  grete  der<?nes  es  yt  done,  3470 

And  for  I  wil  nane  change  ]>i  thoght.' 
J?e  lady  said  :   *  Sir,  thinkes  it  noght  ; 
J>ar  es  no  knight  in  no  cuntre 
J>at  might  change  my  luf  ira  fe. 
And  sen  £e  wil  ]>at  it  be  Jms,  3475 

At  gownr  lyking  habide  me  bus; 
For  ofer  cuwforth  kepe  I  nane 
Bot  of  God  and  of  gow  allane.' 

"J>e  erl  thoght  jit  on  oper  thing. 
'Dame,'  he  said,   'whar<?  es  ]n  ring  3480 

J>at  I  |>e  gaf  of  gold  ful  fyne  1 
Lat  me  se  it,  leman  myne.' 
]?e  lady  answerd  hym  vnto  : 
1  Sir,  what  sal  je  farwith  do  ? 


3455  R  Erell  hyes.  —  3457  R  ryng,  kast.  —  3458  R  doune,  hyes.  —  3459  R 
ryng.  —  3460  R  Scho,  full.  —  3461  R  Scho.  —  3462  R  bare  efter.  —  3463  R  gud.  — 
3464  R  hir,  scho.  —  3465  R  Scho,  scho.  —  3466./?scho,  Wprisond.  —  3467  ^ffro, 
alkyns,  —  3468  R  comforth.  —  3469  R  Erell  full.  —  3470^  gret,  it.  —  3471  R  will, 
chaunge.  —  3473  R,  ZFThare,  R  knyght,  centre.  —  3474  R  myght  chaunge,  JFfor. 

—  3475^  yhe  will.  —  3476  R  yhour  lykyng  abyde.  —  3477  R  comforth.  —  3478 
^?.yhow.  —  3479  R  yhit.  —  3480  R  ryng.  —  3481  JTgaue,  R  full.  —  3482  R  lewman. 

—  3484  R  sail  yhe  >are  wit  A. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES      .  119 

Wene  ge  fat  it  be  oway  3485 

For  I  wenr  it  noght  ilk  day  ? 

Nai,  sir,  dredes  sow  neuer  a  dele, 

For  I  sal  seme  it  wonder  wele.' 

'Dame,'  he  sayd,  'for  luf  of  me, 

A  sight  f  arof  fat  I  might  se ;  3490 

And,  sertes,  I  ask  it  for  none  ill.' 

Sho  said:  'Sir,  gladly  at  gown?  will.' 

Out  of  hir  purs  fe  ring  sho  toke; 

)?e  lord  gan  graythly  on  hir  loke. 

<Lo!  sir,'  sho  said,   'her^  is  my  ri«g.'  3495 

f>e  erl  had  meruail  of  fis  thing, 

f>at  it  was  like,  by  syght, 

J>e  ring  fat  he  saw  of  his  knight. 

Bot  wele  he  hopid  and  weterly, 

J>at  nane  might  win  to  fe  lady;  3500 

Ne  fat  hir  ring  was  noght  hir  fra, 

Bot  fat  fai  had  bene  like,  fai  twa. 

"  He  was  wele  solast  of  fat  sight, 
And  fan?  he  dwelled  al  fat  night. 
f>e  lady  bi  hirself  oft  smyled,  3505 

And  thoght  fat  he  was  wele  bigild. 
Opon  fe  morn  fe  knyght  vp  rase, 
And  to  fe  kirk  graythly  he  gase, 
Goddes  werkes  far<?  for  to  wirk. 
Sefen  com  fe  erl  vnto  fe  kyrk;  3510 

A  mes  ful  sone  fan  gert  he  sing, 
In  honowr<?  of  our^  heuyn  kyng. 
f>e  erl  sent  fan  hastily, 
F.tter  fe  knyght  of  Hungery. 

3485  R  yhe.  —  3486  R  ilk  a  day. — 3487  R  Nay,  dred  yhow.  —  3488  R  sail 
yheme. —  3489  R  said.  —  3490  R  syght  J>are  of,  myght.  —  3492  R  Scho,  yhour.  — 
3493  R  ryng  scho.  —  3494  R  graythely,  luke.  —  3495  R  scho,  es,  ryng.  —  3497  R 
so  lyke  be,  W sight.  —  3498  R  ryng,  on,  knyght,  W^this.  —  3499  R  hoped,  witerly. 
—  3500  R  myght  wyn.  —  3501  R  ryng. —  3502  R  at,  lyke.  —  3503  R  syght.  —  3504 
R  dweld  all,  nyght.  — 3505  R  be,  smyld.  — 3506  R  begyld.  — 3508  R  kyrk.— 
3509  R  Codes.  —  3510  R  Sithen  come.  —  3511  R  mess  full,  syng.  —  3512  R 
honoure,  heuen.  —  3^13  R  Erell. 


120  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

J>e  knyght  come  sone  fe  erl  vntill.     [440]         3515 
]?e  erl  said :   *  Sir,  if  fou  will, 
J?ou  sal  wend  to  wod  with  me, 
At  hunt  and  solace  for  to  se.' 

"  f>e  knyght  answerd  wordes  hewde : 
'  Sir,  to  wod  may  I  noght  wende ;  3520 

For  me  es  cu/rcen  new  tifand, 
J>at  makes  me  ful  wele  lykand, 
Fra  my  cuntre  withowten  lese, — 
f>at  my  frendes  haues  made  mi  pese 
For  fat  knight  fat  I  haue  slayn  ;  3525 

And  of  fir  tifandes  am  I  fayn. 
Andt  sir,  fis  tifandes  es  me  broght 
Bi  my  leman,  fat  has  me  soght 
Heder  out  of  myne  awin  cuntre. 
J>arfor^,  sir,  if  jowr<?  wil  be,  3530 

J>is  day  I  pray  gow  with  me  etc, 
And  se  my  leman  at  fe  mete, 
And  for  to  make  cuwforth  hir  till.' 
f>e  erl  said:  'Gladly  I  will 

Do  al  fe  cowforth  fat  I  can,  3535 

Bath  to  fe  and  fi  leman  ; 
Whenso  fou  will,  send  efter  me, 
And  smer^tly  sal  I  cum  to  fe.' 

"  J>an  went  fe  erl  to  his  solace, 
Vnto  fe  wod  to  mak  his  chace.  3540 

And  fe  knight  went  sone  onane, 
And  ordand  mete  and  drink  gud  wane. 
His  hows  he  dight  on  gude  aray ; 
And  smertly  fan  he  toke  fe  way 
Vnto  fe  lady  fain?  and  bright,  3545 

3515  W  com,  R  vn  tyll.  —  3516  W  Sire.  —  3517  R  sail  wende.  —  3518  W  be. 
—  3521  R  comen,  tythand.  —  3522  R  full.  —  3523  A5  ffro,  centre  w/'tfc  outen. — 
3524  R  At,  has,  my.  —  3525  R  knyght,  slayne.  —  3526  W,  R  tythandes,  R  fayne.  — 
3527  R  J>es,  W,  R  tythandes.  —  3528  R  Be,  lewman.  —  3529  A*  Hyder,  awen  centre, 
Wowt.  —  3530  R  )>arfor,  yhour  will.  —  3531  R  yhow,  ette.  —  3532  R  lewman.— 
3533  R  mak  comforth,  tyll.  —  3535  R  all,  kan,  JTcumforth. — 3538  W,  R  smertly, 
R  sail,  com.  —  3541  R  knyght.  —  3542  R  ordaind,  drynk.  —  3543  R  dyght,  gud. — 
3545  R  fair,  bryght. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  121 

And  gert  ]>at  sho  war  gayly  dyght, 

In  gold  garmentes,  richely  wroght, 

And  talde  hir  al  how  he  has  thoght 

f»at  ilk  day  sho  and  hir  lord 

Sold  bath  togeder  et  of  a  bord;  3550 

And  how  hir  lord  sold  vnderstand 

J>at  sho  war  cuwen  out  of  fer  land. 

Down  he  broght  hir  til  his  hows, 

Hamely  als  sho  war  his  spows. 

Bot  hir  garmentes  war  al  new,  3555 

J>at  no  man  in  fat  cuntre  knew. 

Opon  hir  fingers  gert  he  done 

Gold  ringes  ful  many  one. 

Hir  hed  was  gayly  dubed  and  dyght 

With  gerlands  al  of  gold  ful  bright.  3560 

So  out  of  kenyng  he  hir  broght 

pat  hir  lord  fan  knew  hir  noght.      [44  d] 

"  Fra  hunting  come  fe  erl  in  hi ; 
J>e  knyght  him  keped  ful  curtaisly, 
And  til  his  hows  he  led  him  fan  3565 

For  to  ett  with  his  leman. 
Redy  was  ordaynd  and  dyght 
Mete  and  drink  for  mani  a  knight. 
Vnto  fe  bord  fe  erl  es  set, 

And  his  whif,  with  him  to  et.  3570 

J>e  knight  said  :  '  J>is  es  my  leman ; 
Makes  hir  comforth  if  ge  can.' 
J>e  erl  bad  sho  sold  be  blith, 
And  he  biheld  hir  mony  a  syth ; 
And  wonder  in  his  hert  had  he  3575 


3546  R  scho.  —  3547  R  rychely.  —  3548  R  tald,  all.  —  3549  R  scho.  —  3550  R 
Suld,  to  gyder  ett.  —  3551  R  suld.  —  3552^  scho,  comen.  —  3553  R  Doune,  till. — 
3554  R  scho.  — 3555  R  all  — 3556  R  centre.  — 3557  R  fyngms.  —  3558  R  rynges 
full.  —  3559  R  heued,  dubbed,  dight.  —  3560  R  garlandes  all,  full  bryght.  —  3563 
R  huntyng,  Erell,  hy.  —  3564  R  full,  W  curtaysly.  —  3565  R  till.  —  3566  R  lewman. 

—  3567  R  ordaind.  —  3568  .R  drynk,  many,  knyght.  —  3569  R  sett.  —  3570  R  wyf, 
ett. — 3571  /*  knyght,  lew/man.  —  3572  R  yhe  kan.  —  3573  R  scho  suld,  blythe. 

—  3574  R  be  held,  many,  sythe. 


122  THE    SEVEN    SAGES 

How  pat  it  so  myght  be, 

J>at  any  lady  in  pis  life 

Might  be  so  like  his  owin  wyfe. 

J>e  lady  praied  him  blith  to  be, 

And  ett  gladly,  par  charite.  3580 

J>e  erl  bad  hir  also  be  glad, 

And  loked  on  hir  als  he  war  mad; 

Bot  he  thoght  pe  towre  was  so  strang 

J>at  pare  myght  no  man  do  him  wrang, 

Ne  fat  his  whif  might  noght  cum  doun.  3585 

J>arfore  trowed  he  no  tresowne. 

He  thoght  :   <  Oft  sythes  bifalles  slike, 

J>at  mani  wemen  er  oper  like, 

Als  was  pe  ring  of  gold  fyne 

J>at  I  wend  wele  had  bene  myne.'  3590 

"f>us  pe  erl  left  al  his  care; 
Of  pis  mater  he  thinkes  no  mare. 
J>an  said  pe  knight  on  pis  manere 
Vnto  pe  erl:   'Sir,  mase  glide  chere.' 
J>e  erl  said  :  '  Sir,   I  pe  pray,  3595 

J>e  sertan  soth  fat  pou  me  say 
Whepin  es  pis  faire  lady 
J>at  pou  has  set  at  met  me  by  ? ' 
f>e  knight  said  :  « Sir,  bi  my  lewte, 
Sho  es  cuwen  fra  myne  awyn  cuntre ;  3600 

Sho  es  my  leman  ]>at  has  me  soght, 
And  new  tithandes  sho  haues  me  broght  ; 
Mi  pese  es  made  foreuermare 
For  fe  knight  pat  I  slogh  pare, 
So  pat  I  may  wend  hardily  3605 


3577  R  lyfe.  —  3578  R  lyke,  awen.  —  3579  W,  Sprayed,  JR  blyth. — 3580  JFelt, 
R  charyte.  —  3581  R  als.  —  3583  R  toure.  —  3585,  -3587,  3588  R  first  letter  of  the 
line  obliterated.  —  3585  R  wyfe  . . .  ht,  com  doune.  —  3586  R  >ar  for,  tresoune. — 
3587  v^sithes,  slyke.  —  3588  R  many,  lyke.  —  3589  R  ryng.  —  3591  R  all. — 3593 
R  knyght.  —  3594  R  gud.  —  3595  W  Sire.  —  3596  R  sertaine. —  3597  R  Whethen, 
W  Wheym,  R  fayre.  —  3598  R  sett,  mete.  —  3599  j?  knyght,  be.  —  3600  R  Scho, 
comen  fro,  Wfrom,  R  awen  centre.  —  3601  R  Askes  instead  of  Sho  es,  R  lewman. 
—  3602  W,  R  tythandes,  R  scho,  boght,  —  3604  R  knyght. 


THE  SEVEN  SAGES  123 

Hame  ogayn  my  pese  to  cri ; 

And  farfore  wil  I  with  hir  wende, 

For  to  speke  with  ilka  frende.' 

*  Sir,  sekerly,'  said  fe  erl  pan,     [45  a] 

1  Me  think  fou  has  a  fayr^  leman.'  3610 

"  Whan  f  ai  had  etyn  and  dronken  inoghe, 
f>ai  toke  vp  mete,  and  clathes  drogh. 
When  ]>e  erl  liked  to  gane, 
He  toke  leue  at  fe  knyghtes  lemaw. 
And  hastily  when  he  was  went,  3615 

J>e  knight  and  fe  lady  gent 
Sone  did  of  fe  riche  aray 
J>at  fai  had  done  on  fat  day ; 
Hir  awyn  robe  sone  did  fai  on, 
And  dighted  hir  als  sho  was  won.  3620 

And  fan  sho  toke  J>e  preue  sty 
Into  fe  toure  ful  hastily. 
]>e  knight  gan  playnly  with  hir  pas 
Vntil  sho  in  hir  chamber  was. 

And  vnnethes  was  fe  knyght  went  out  3625 

When  fe  erl  was  gane  obowt  ; 
Vnto  J>e  tour<?  he  takes  fe  way 
Als  hastily  als  euer  he  may ; 
J>are  he  findes  his  lady, 
Keped  him  ful  curtaysely.  3630 

"f>an  was  fe  erl  in  hert  ful  glad 
When  he  wist  fat  he  hir  had. 
Him  thoght  jit  sho  was  like  fully 
To  fe  lady  fat  sat  him  by. 

J>ar<?  fe  erl  dwelled  al  nyght,  3635 

And  laiked  him  with  his  lady  bright. 

3606  R  o  gayne,  cry.  —  3607  R  >arfor  will,  wend.  —  3608  R  frend.  —  3609  R 
sikerly.  —  3610  R  fair  lewman.  —  361 1  ffeten,  inoughe,  R  When.  —  36 1 2  R  droghe. 
—  3613  R  lyked.  —  3614  R  lewmane.  —  3616  R  knyght.  —  3617  R  ryche.  —  3619 
R  awen.  —  3620  R  dyghted,  scho.  —  3621  R  scho,  W  priue.  —  3622  R  full.— 
'3623  R  knyght.  —  3624  R  Vn  till  scho,  chaumbre. — 3626^  o  bout.  —  3629 /* 
fyndes.  —  3630  R  full  curtaisly.  —  3631  R  full.  —  3632  W  Whan.  —  3633  R  yhit 
scho,  lyke.  —  3634  R  satt.  —  3635  R  all.  —  3636  R  layked,  bryght. 


124  THE  SEVEN   SAGES 

f>at  night  fai  wroght  what  faire  wils  ware; 

And  on  ]>at  wise  fai  met  na  mare. 

Herkens  now,  how  it  bifell : 

On  fis  maner  stode  fat  castell,  3640 

J>at  fe  se  ran  fast  byside ; 

Many  gode  shippes  gan  fare  bide. 

Whils  fe  erl  of  grete  honowre 

Lay  with  fe  lady  in  fee  towre, 

J>e  knight  ordand  a  ship  of  sail,  3645 

And  gert  ben?  f  eder  gude  vetaille  ; 

Al  his  gode  feder  gert  he  bere, 

Gold  and  siluer  and  ofer  gere. 

"On  fe  morn  fe  erl  forth  gase, 

And  left  his  lady  in  fat  place.  3650 

Vntil  J>e  kirk  fan  went  he  sone 
And  herd  his  mes  als  he  was  wone ; 
And  when  he  to  fe  kirk  was  gane, 
f>e  knyght  went  to  fe  towre  onane, 
And  down  he  broght  fe  fayre  lady  3655 

Into  his  hows  ful  praiely.     [45  b] 
And  of  fai  toke  fe  clathes  sone 
J>at  fe  lady  had  hir  on  ; 
f>ai  dight  hir  in  fe  garments  gay 
]?at  sho  had  on  fat  ofer  day ;  .  3660 

With  gerlandes  and  with  gleterand  thing 
Was  sho  made  out  of  knawyng. 

"When  al  was  done  als  it  sold  be, 
Vnto  fe  erl,  his  lord,  went  he. 
'  Sir,'  he  sayd,  '  I  wald  f  e  pray  3665 

Of  a  ded  fis  ilk  day: 
J>at  fou  wil  gif  me  with  fi  hand 

3637  R  J?air  wyls.  —  3638  R  wyse,  mett  no.  —  3640  R  manure.  —  3641  R 
bi  syde.  —  3642  R  gud  schippes,  byde.  —  3643  R  gret  honoure.  —  3644  R  toure.  — 
3645  R  knyght  ordaind,  schipp,  sayle.  —  3646  R  >ider  gud  vetaile.  —  3647  R  All, 
gud  J>ider.  —  3648  R  syluer.  —  3650  W  plase.  —  3651  R  vn  tyll,  kyrk.  —  3652  R 
mess.  —  3653  R  kyrk. — 3654  R  toure.  —  3655  R  doune,  fair.  —  3656  R  full,  W 
priuely.  —  3658  R  o  pone.  —  3659  R  dyght.  —  3660  R  scho.  —  3661  R  garlandes.  — 
3662  R  scho.  —  3663  R  all,  suld.  —  3666  R  thing  instead  of  ded.  —  3667  R  will  gyf . 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  125 

My  leman  or  I  pas  fi  lond, 

J>at  I  mai  wed  hir  to  my  whife ; 

For  with  hir  wil  I  lede  my  lyfe.'  3670 

He  sayd  he  thoght  to  wed  hir  fan 

J>at  had  byfore  ben  his  leman, 

For  luf  of  God  and  als  for  drede, 

And  for  he  sold  fe  better  spede. 

J>e  erl  said :   '  J>at  es  gude  scill,  3675 

And  als  fou  sais,  syr,  do  I  will.' 

"  Sone  fe  erl  cals  knightes  twa, 
And  bad  fam  sone  fat  fai  sold  ga 
And  feche  fe  lady  vnto  fe  kirk. 

J>ai  war  redy  his  wil  to  wirk;  3680 

To  kirk  fai  led  J>at  faire  lady. 
A  preste  was  reuist  hastily. 
J>e  erl  come  with  meri  cherc, 
Omang  al  fat  folk  in  fere. 

His  owin  lady  he  toke  byliue  3685 

And  gaf  fe  knyght  vntil  his  wiue; 
J>e  prest  fam  weddes  swith  sone. 
And  als  tite  als  fe  mes  was  done, 
fan  was  f arc  made  grete  menestr<?lsy ; 
And  fe  knight  and  his  lady  3690 

Went  fam  forth  with  grete  solas 
To  fe  ship  whar<?  his  godes  in  was. 
J>e  erl  went  with  f  am  f  artill ; 
J>e  knight  went  yn  with  ful  gude  will. 

"  J>e  lady  stode  still  on  f  e  sand ;  3^95 

Ipe  erl  toke  hir  by  fe  hand, 
And  bad  fe  knyght  sold  hir  take, 
Euermare  to  be  his  make. 
f>anr  fe  knyght  toke  fe  lady, 

And  said  to  fe  erl  :  *  Sir,  gramercy  3700 

Of  fis  and  of  al  ofer  grace.' 


3668  R  Mi  lewman,  pass.  —  3669  R  may,  wyfe.  —  3670  R  will.  —  367 1  R  said.  — 
3672  R  be  fore,  lewman.  —  3673  W  lufe.  —  3673  to  4022  (two  folios  following 
fol.  1 25)  R  omits.  —  3677  W  knyghtes.  —  3682  Jf  prieste.  —  3701  W  om,  second  of. 


126  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

f>us  of  fe  erl  hys  leue  he  tase ; 

J>e  wind  blew,  fai  went  J>aire  way.     [45  c] 

J>us  lost  ]?e  erl  his  whife  for  ay; 

He  gaf  hir  J>us  pe  knyght  to  wed ;  3705 

f>arfore  ful  sari  life  he  led. 

"  When  J?e  knight  was  went  with  J>e  lady, 
J>e  erl  wendes  hame  hastily ; 
Vntil  J?e  tome  ]>e  way  he  tase, 

To  tel  his  lady  how  it  was,  3710 

And  how  he  had  his  knyght  cu^uayd ; 
He  trowed  noght  how  he  was  bitraid. 
Vntil  his  toim?  Jms  wendes  he  right, 
For  to  speke  with  his  lady  bright. 
Into  )>e  chameber  gari  he  ga,  3715 

And  loked  obout,  bath  to  and  fra ; 
He  saw  no  syght  of  his  lady ; 
parfore  sone  he  wex  sary. 
Of  hir  cowth  he  nothing  here; 

J>an  he  wepid  with  sari  chere.  3720 

Vnto  himself  he  gan  him  mene 
J>at  al  was  soth  als  he  had  sene. 
J>an  wist  he  it  was  his  lady 
J>at  at  )>e  mete  was  set  him  by. 
To  wax  wise  fan  he  bigan ;  3725 

J>arfore  blamed  him  moni  a  man." 

J>an  J>e  maister  Maxencius 
Vnto  }>e  Empm}ur<?  said  Jms  : 
"  On  pis  wise  dose  ]?ou,  sir,"  said  he, 
"When  )>i  whif  spekes  to  J>e :  3730 

f>ou  trowes  hir  tales  day  and  nyght, 
Better  J>an  ]?at  J>ou  sese  in  sight. 
And,  sir,"  he  said,  "  ]>at  ]ns  soth  be, 
Tomorn  ]>ou  sal  wele  here  and  se  — 
Who  has  fe  wrang  in  al  J?is  strife,  3735 

Whefer  }>i  son  or  ])i  wife. 
For  tomorn  )>i  son  sal  speke ; 

3711  J^conuayd. — 3725  W  began. 


THE   SEVEN  SAGES  I2/ 

J>an  hope  I  wele  fou  wil  him  wreke." 

J>e  Empm)wr£  sais :  "  Bi  my  swire, 

Sir,  fat  war  my  moste  desire.  3740 

If  I  mai  whit  who  has  fe  right, 

It  sal  be  venged  at  my  might." 

f>an  J>e  maister  wendes  his  way  ; 

f>us  was  fe  childe  saued  fat  day. 

J>e  Empmce  fan  was  ful  wa  3745 

J>at  fe  childe  was  saued  swa; 
For  wele  sho  wist  hir  was  na  bote 
Of  fat  mater  mor<?  to  mote. 


Here  Bigins  f>e  Fiftend  Prolong. 

f>e  Emperoure  fan,  al  fat  night,     [45  d] 
In  his  hert  he  was  ful  lyght ;  3750 

Bot  fe  Empmce  had  mekil  sorow 
For  fe  child  sold  speke  at  morow. 
J>e  Emperoure  lay  in  gude  pese ; 
Him  for  to  p/rche  wald  sho  noght  prese. 
On  fe  morn  fe  Emperoure  3755 

Went  to  kirk  with  grete  honowre, 
With  many  knytes  of  his  menge. 
And  al  fe  burias  of  fat  cete, 
Burias  wiues,  and  maidens  bright, 
Wele  araid  and  richely  dyght,  3760 

To  court  fai  come  with  ful  gude  chere, 
J>e  child  speche  for  fai  wald  here. 
J>e  Seuyn  Maisters  euerilkane 
Come  vnto  fe  court  onane. 

Smertly  when  fe  mes  was  done,  3765 

f>e  Empm)ur<?  him  hasted  sone ; 
Til  a  faire  place  he  made  him  boun, 
And  bad  fe  folk  fai  sold  syt  down. 
Sone  he  cald  fe  Maisters  Seuyn, 

3738  W  will.  —  3741  W  may.  —  3742  W  mi.  —  3748  W  wel.  —  Heading  W  om., 
MS.  xv.  — 3752  W  childe. 


I28  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

And  twa  he  gan  bi  names  neuyn,  3770 

And  bad  fam  feche  his  sone  forth  sone. 

His  cumandment  bilyue  was  done; 

J>ai  went  to  presowne  with  gude  will, 

And  broght  fe  childe  his  fader  vntill. 

Ful  klenly  was  he  cled  and  dyght,  3775 

Bot  he  was  lene  and  febil  of  myght. 

f>e  childe  was  set  in  middes  fe  place, 
Right  befor  his  fader  face. 
J>e  folk  made  mikil  noys  and  shrill ; 
J>arfore  fe  childe  git  held  him  still.  378° 

He  thanked  God  of  his  gude  grace 
Whils  fai  made  pese  in  fat  place. 
f>an  stode  fe  child  vp  sone  onane, 
Bifon?  his  fader  and  fe  folk  ilkane  ; 
He  bowed  him  ful  bowsumly,  3785 

And  of  his  fader  asked  mercy. 
He  said :  "  Sir,  ge  er  wrethed  wrang ; 
J>at  sal  ge  wit  wele  or  I  gang. 
J>e  wiked  wil,  sir,  of  jowre  wife 
Has  made  me  al  ]>is  mekil  strif;  379° 

For  sho  had  made  thurgh  sorceri 
Thing  fat  I  sold  haue  bene  ded  by. 
I  saw  in  fe  mone  and  stemes  all 
How  fat  sold  of  me  bifall : 

J>at,  had  I  spoken  with  any  man  3795 

To  seuyn  days  war  cu^en  and  gane,     [46  a] 
My  hert  sold  sone  haue  broken  \n  sender; 
J>an  had  my  maisters  bene  al  vnder. 
And  for  my  maisters  fat  me  jemed 
For  my  sake  sold  noght  be  flemed,  3800 

J>arfore,  sir,  I  held  .me  still, 
And  sofferd  what  men  did  me  till." 

"Bot,  fader,"  he  said,   "it  fars  of  fe, 
And  right  so  haues  fou  done  with  me 

3771    W  fech.  —  3778    W  before.  —  3797    W  asonder.  —  3798    W  maysters, 
under. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  1 29 

Als  did  a  gudeman,  here  bi  west,  3805 

J>at  his  son  in  fe  se  kest, 

For  he  said  he  sold  be,  by  grace, 

Richer  man  fan  euer  he  was." 

J>e  Empm)ure  said  :  "  So  haue  I  sele, 

Son,  fi  wordes  payes  me  wele ;  3810 

J>arfore,  son,  for  my  benzown, 

Tel  vs  al  now  fat  resown. 

pi  maisters  has  al  tald  for  fe 

Tales  fat  ful  wele  liked  me  ; 

Bot,  sone,  a  tale  of  fe  allane  3815 

Wil  like  me  mare  fan  f ai  ilkane ; 

J>arfore  fi  tale  fou  tell  vs  till." 

He  said:  "Sir,  gladly,  at  jowre  will." 

L  Story  XV.  ~| 
Vaticinium.  J 

f>e  Fiftend  Tale  Said  f>e  Childe. 

"  Syr,"  he  said,  "  in  fis  cuntre 

Wond  a  man,  curtays  and  fre ;  3820 

He  had  a  son  was  wise  and  balde, 
Of  fully  fiften  winters  aide. 
Opon  a  day,  in  somers  tyde, 
f>e  gudeman  went  by  fe  se-syde. 
He  had  a  ship  fat  new  was  wroght ;   .  3825 

He  bad  fe  mayster  it  sold  be  broght 
A  mile  or  twa  opon  fe  se, 
And  himself  farin  wald  be. 
He  toke  his  son,  als  je  may  here, 
And  went  to  ship  fai  bath  in  fere;  3830 

J>ai  war  in  will  fam  to  solas, 
In  an  yle  fat  in  fe  se  was. 

"Als  fai  federward  gan  wende, 
Twa  rauenes  on  faire  shippes  ende 
Cried  on  fam  loud  and  shill,  3835 

And  ouer  faire  ship  fai  houed  still. 

3810  £Fwel.  —  Heading  W  om.,  MS.  xv. — 3834  JFravenes.  —  3835  JFloude. 


130  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>an  said  f  e  fader,  with  hert  fre : 

*  Son,  what  may  al  f  is  noys  be, 

J>at  f  ise  rauens  thusgat  cri  ? 

What  euer  sal  it  sygnyfy  ? '  3840 

"f>e  child  was  of  wit  ful  klene ;     [46  b] 
He  said :  '  I  wote  wele  what  fai  me[ne]. 
J>ir  twa  rauens  says  in  fair<?  steuy« 
J>at,  thurgh  fe  help  of  God  of  heuy#, 
I  sal  be  of  so  grete  powste,  3845 

Fader,  fat  f  ou  sal  noght  knaw  me  ; 
And  if  I  wil  it  softer  sertayn, 
Fader,  fou  sal  be  ful  fayn 
For  to  hald  my  kapes  sleue, 

Whils  I  washs ;  Jns  may  ge  leue.  3850 

And  more  jit  sais  f  e  rauens  twa : 
J>at  my  moder  sal  alswa 
Be  ful  fayn  to  hald  fe  clathe 
Whills  my  handes  be  wyped  bath.' 
When  fe  fader  herd  how  he  sayd,  3855 

Of  his  wordes  he  was  noght  payd, 
And  til  his  son  fan  gan  he  say : 
*J>e  crakes  sal  ly,  if  I  may. 
What,  son,'  he  said,  'couaites  fou 
To  be  richer  fan  I  am  now  ?  3860 

Nay,   sertes,  it  sal  noght  be  swa 
Whils  fat  I  may  ride  and  ga.' 
His  semly  son  fan  hentes  he, 
And  kest  him  sone  into  fe  se. 

He  turned  fe  ship  with  eger  mode;  3865 

J>e  child  flet  forth  in  fe  flode. 

"f>e  fader  bade  fe  rauens  him  take, 
And  with  his  body  meri  make ; 
And  hastly  went  he  hame  ogayne ; 
Ful  wele  he  wend  his  son  war  slaine.  3870 

J>e  child  swam  forth  in  f e  se ; 
On  God  in  heuyn  ay  thinkes  he, 

3842  JTwot,  MS.  me.  ..  —  3848  Wfayne.  —  3851  JFsays.  —  3854 
3868  JFbodi. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  131 

And  specially  he  praied  him  till 

To  help  him  if  it  war  his  will. 

And  God  of  heuy#,  of  his  grete  grace,  3875 

Made  him  to  riue  vp  in  a  place, 

Opon  ane  ile  fare,  in  fe  se. 

Ful  ioyful  fan  in  hert  was  he. 

J?e  childe  gede  vpon  f  e  land, 

And  thanked  Ihesu  of  his  sande.  3880 

In  fat  land  he  lifed  allane; 

Foure  daies  mete  ete  he  nane. 

"  He  herd  f  e  fowles  speke  him  till, 
And  said  :  '  Childe,  gif  fe  noght  ill ; 
Ihesu  wil  f  e  help  in  haste ;  3885 

J>i  meschefe  es  now  alfermaste.' 
J>e  childe  knew  wele  fe  fowles  sang; 
He  thanked  God  graithly  omang.       [46  c] 
He  vnderstode  al  fowles  language, 
Bath  yn  wod  and  als  in  cage.  3890 

J>ai  sang  him  cuwfort  wonder  wele, 
For  he  wist  faire  men  kg  ilk  dele. 

"J>e  fift  day  fan  come  sayland 
A  fissher  bote  biside  fe  land. 

Of  fat  sight  ful  fayn  was  he,  3895 

And  fast  he  hies  him  to  fe  se. 
'  Help  me,  sir,'  f  us  gan  he  cri, 
'  For  Ihesu  luf  and  milde  Mari.' 
J>e  fissher  saw  fe  childe  allane, 

And  vnto  him  he  rowed  onane.  3900 

And  sone  when  he  come  to  fe  childe, 
He  spak  to  him  with  wordes  milde : 
'  Frely  childe,  what  dose  fou  here  ? ' 
J>an  said  J?e  childe  with  simpil  chen? : 
*  Sir,  help  fat  I  war  in  fi  bate,  3905 

And  I  sal  tel  fe  al  my  state.' 
Intil  his  bate  he  gan  him  bring, 
And  fan  he  talde  him  his  asking : 

3877  W  an.— 3880  W  Jesu,  sand.  — 3882   W  Four.  — 3885  W  Jesu.  —  3886 
W  mischefe.  —  3890  W  Bathe.  —  3898  /^Jesu.  —  3899  MS.  ffissher. 


132  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

How  his  fader  kest  him  in  fe  se 

For  he  said  ]>at  he  sold  be  3910 

Gretter  of  myght,  by  Goddes  grace, 

And  richer  fan  his  fader  was ; 

And  how  he  swam  into  fat  yle, 

Al  he  talde  him  in  fat  while. 

"J>e  fissher  thoght  of  hym  pete.  3915 

'  Childe,'  he  said,   *  I  sal  bring  fe 
Vntil  a  kastel  here  nerehand, 
Vnto  fe  kinges  steward  of  fis  land. 
J>are  sal  fou  play  and  meri  make.' 
J>e  childe  said :  '  For  Ih&ru  sake,  3920 

Bring  me,  if  it  be  ]>i  will, 
J>ar<?  I  may  ette  and  drink  my  fill.' 
Sone  fai  come  to  fe  castele 
Whan?  J>e  fissher  was  knawen  wele. 
He  said  fe  childe,  I  vnderstand,  3925 

Vntil  fe  steward  of  fat  land. 
J>e  steward  was  of  hym  f ul  fayn ; 
He  saw  neuer  fairer  for  sertayne : 
He  was  ful  cum\y  on  to  call, 

Fair<?  and  curtays  euer  with  all.  3930 

J?e  childe  wex  and  wele  gan  thryue ; 
]?e  steward  lufed  hym  als  his  lyue. 

"  In  fat  land  fan  was  a  king 
J>at  had  grete  thoght  and  made  morny«g 
For  thre  rauens  fat  cried  on  him  ay ;     [46  d]     3935 
In  kirk,  in  hall,  in  ilka  way, 
Whareso  he  sold  ryde  or  gane, 
J>a  rauens  cried  euer  onane  — 
Opon  fe  king  ay  gan  fai  cry. 

His  folk  farof  had  grete  ferly;  3940 

And  al  fe  men  of  ilk  cuntre 
Had  grete  selkuth  fat  sight  to  se. 
J>e  king  in  no  place  [might]  haue  pese, 
For  of  fair<?  noys  wald  fai  neuer  sese ; 

3914  W whyle. —  3915  MS.  ffissher.  —  3920  JFJesu.  —  3924  W  Where.  —  3928 
Wfayrer.  —  3930  W  Fayre.  —  3943  MS.  om.  might.  —  3944  W  thair  noyse. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  133 

Nowfer  for  bow  ne  for  sling  3945 

No  man  might  fam  oway  bring. 

"J>e  king  wald  fayn  oway  fam  wyn, 
Bot  he  wist  noght  how  to  bygyn. 
Efter  his  barnage  has  he  sent, 

And  gert  ordayn  a  grete  p<zrlement,  3950 

For  to  wit  encheson  why 
J>at  ]>e  rauens  made  slike  cri  ; 
For  wele  he  trowed  fam  al  omell 
J>at  som  wise  man  sold  him  tell. 
When  his  barons  wist  his  will,  3955 

Hastily  fai  come  him  till  ; 
Al  }>e  lordes  on  ilka  syde 
Come  vnto  fe  court  }>at  tide. 
J>e  steward  fat  had  fe  childe  in  keping, 
Said  he  wald  wend  vnto  J>e  king,  3960 

If  he  myght  here  of  any  man 
f>at  fe  king  wele  tell  can 
Why  thre  rauens  opon  him  cry, 
And  what  fat  it  might  signyfy. 

'  Sir/  said  fe  child,  «  par  charite,  3965 

Wiltou  lat  me  wend  with  ]>  e  ?  ' 
J>e  steward  said  :  «  Sen  f  ou  wil  swa, 
Gladly  saltou  with  me  ga. 
f>e  kinges  wil  son  saltow  here, 
And  sum  gude  pare  may  fou  lere.'  3970 

"f>e  steward  wendes,  fe  childe  alswa, 
And  with  fam  ofer  many  ma. 
Vnto  ]>e  kourt  fan  cuwen  ware, 
Erles,  barons,  both  les  and  mare. 
J>e  sertayn  day  bifore  was  set;  3975 

J>arfor  fe  lordes,  withowten  let, 
Come  vnto  fat  sertayn  day. 
And  fan  fe  king  gert  sone  puruay 
Al  fe  lordes  into  a  hall, 
And  set  himself  omang  fam  all.  3980 


3958  fFCom,  courte.  —  3979 


134  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

1  Sirs,'  he  sayd,  « ge  sal  sit  downe, 

And  takes  entent  to  my  resowne.'      [47  a] 

"  J>an  stode  he  vp  omanges  fam  all, 
On  fe  heghest  place  in  fe  hall. 

'  Lordinges,'  he  said,   *  lokes  omang  gow  3985 

If  any  man  can  tel  me  now 
Of  thre  rauens  fat  cryes  on  me, 
In  what  stede  so  fat  I  be. 
Wha  can  me  tel,  so  mot  I  thriue, 
My  doghter  sal  he  haue  to  wiue,  3990 

And  half  my  kingdom  ilka  dele, 
J>at  he  sal  hald  him  paid  ful  wele.' 
When  fe  king  had  said  his  will, 
Al  f e  lordes  sat  stane-still ; 

Of  al  fe  wise  men  fat  far  ware,  3995 

Nane  kowth  gif  him  graith  answarc. 
J?e  steward  childe  fan  was  wele  paid, 
When  he  herd  how  fe  kyng  had  said  ; 
In  his  hert  he  thinkes  wele 

J>at  he  kowth  tel  him  ilka  dele.  4000 

Til  his  lord  spekes  he  pmiely, 
And  sais  :  *  J>is  tale  wele  tel  can  I, 
Of  fe  rauens  fat  on  fe  king  cries, 
And  also  what  it  signyfies. 

If  fe  king  will  hald  fat  he  has  hight  .       4005 

Vnto  fam  fat  kowth  tel  him  right, 
To  tel  him  wil  I  wele  warand 
If  he  wil  hald  me  lele  couenand.' 

"f>e  steward  said:   '  Lat  swilk  wordes  be, 
For,  son,  fou  may  sone  shend  me ;  4010 

If  fou  tald  a  wrang  resown, 
In  euyl  tyme  come  we  to  toun.' 
'  Sir,'  said  fe  childe,   *  drede  fe  nathing  ; 
I  knaw  ful  wele  fe  fowles  criyng; 
Whare  any  singes  in  wode  or  cage,  4015 

I  vnderstand  wele  fair*  langwage.' 

3984  W  highest.  —  3987  W  the  for  thre.  —  4001  Jfpriuely.  —  4002  W  said. — 
4013  Wsaycl. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  135 

J>e  steward  stode  vp  in  ]>e  hall 

And  to  [fe]  king  fan  gan  he  call  : 

*  I  haue  a  childe,'  he  said,  '  sir  kyng, 

}?at  can  tel  pe  fine  asking  :  4020 

Why  J?e  thre  rauens  opon  J>e  cry, 

And  als  what  it  may  signyfy, 

If  pou  will  hald  pat  J>ou  has  hyght 

Vnto  }>am  ]?at  can  tel  fe  right.' 

"  '  ^is,'  said  fe  king,  and  parto  swar^,  4025 

'  Al  fat  I  hight  and  mekyl  mare 
Sal  I  gif  him  fat  me  tels 
Why  fe  thre  rauens  on  me  gelles.' 
J>e  steward  fe  childe  vnto  fe  king  led,     [47  b] 
^^  bad  he  sold  noght  be  adred.  4030 

When  fe  child  come  to  fe  king, 
He  bad  he  sold  mak  no  lesyng. 
J>e  childe  said :  '  Sir,  by  God  mighty, 
I  sal  say  noght  bot  sothfastly.' 

*  "  f>an  stode  fe  childe  vp  sone  onane,  4035 

Bifore  fe  barons  euerilkane. 
On  him  fai  loked,  bath  les  and  mare;   . 
So  faire  a  childe  saw  fai  neuer  are. 
'  Sirs,'  he  said,  '  je  se  ilkane 

How  a  rauen  sittes  and  cries  allane.  4040 

Sir  king/  he  said,  <  I  tel  it  fe, 
It  es  fe  femal  of  fe  thre. 
And,  sirs,'  he  sayd,  'ge  se  alswa 
How  far<?  sittes  ofer  rauens  twa. 
Also  ge  se  fair<?  ferly  farc,  4045 

How  fe  les  cries  on  fe  mar^. 
f>e  mare  of  J?am  f e  elder  ys ; 

4018  MS.  om.  }>e.  —  4021  W  rauen.  —  4022  MS.  gignyfy.  —  4024  W  om.  can,  R 
kan  tell,  ryght.  —  4025  R  Yhis,  kyng,  J>are  to. — 4026  R  All,  mykell.  —  4027  R 
Sail,  gyf.  —  4028  R  Whi,  yhels.  —  4029  R  child,  kyng.  —  4030  R  suld.  —  4031 
R  kyng.  —  4032  R  suld.  —  4033  Wt  R  child,  R  be,  myghty.  —  4034  R  sail.  — 4035 
R  child.  —  4036  R  Bi  for.  —  4037  R  both  less.  —  4038  R  fair,  child.  —  4039  R  yhe. 
—  4040  R  syttes,  cryes.  —  4041  R  kyng,  tell.  —  4042  R  female.  —  4043  W,  R  said, 
R  yhe,  all  swa.  —  4044  R  syttes.  —  4045  R  yhe,  J?air.  —  4046  R  less  cryes.  —  4047 
W  them,  R  is. 


136  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

f>at  oper  female  first  was  his. 

He  held  hir  wele  al  threty  %ere  ; 

J>an  so  bifell  pat  corn  was  der<?,  4050 

J>arfor<f  pe  alder  hir  forsoke, 

And  nothing  wald  he  til  hir  loke. 

He  fled  fra  hir  in  pat  dere  tyme, 

And  on  sere  sides  soght  sho  hym. 

" '  J>us  when  pe  alder  hir  gan  forsake,  4055 

f>e  Conger  toke  hir  to  his  make ; 
J>e  gonger  rauen  hir  toke  pat  tyme 
For  his  felow  forth  with  hym. 
He  jemed  hir  ful  wele  always, 

Both  by  nightes  and  bi  dayes.  4060 

Fro  hir  neuer  fleghe  he  walde, 
Nowther  for  hunger  ne  for  calde. 
Now  es  pe  aid  rauen  cuwen  ogayn, 
And  wald  haue  his  fer<?  ful  fain. 
J>e  aid  rauen  sais  fat  sho  es  his ;  4065 

J>e  gonger  sais  fat    "  Myne  sho  ys, 
For  I  haue  wond  with  hir  alway 
.  And  left  hir  nowper  night  ne  day." 
He  sais  sho  sal  noght  part  him  fra, 
Nowper  for  wele  ne  for  wa,  4070 

Til  pe  dome,  sir  king,  be  gifen  of  pe, 
Wheper  make  fat  sho  sal  be.' 

"  J>e  child  said  :   '  Sertainly,  sir  king, 
f>is  es  pe  cause  of  paire  crying. 

When  pou  haues  said  to  pam  pi  will  4075 

And  gifen  pe  dome  by  right  and  scyll,     [47  c] 
Wheper  of  pam  pat  hir  sal  haue, 


4049  R  all  thretty  yhere.  — 4051  R  >arfor.  —  4052  R  till,  luke.  —  4053  R  fro. — 
4054  R  sydes,  scho.  —  4056  R  yhonger.  —  4057  R  yhonger.  —  4058  R  hime.  —  4059 
R  yhemed,  full,  all  ways.  —  4060  R  bi  nyghtes,  days.  —  4061  R  fle,  wald. — 
4062  R  Nouther,  cald.  —  4063  R  comen  o  gayne.  —  4064  R  full  f ayne.  —  4065  R 
scho.  —  4066^  yhonger,  scho  is.  —  4067  R  alway  mutilated. — 4068  R  nouther 
nyght,  ne  mutilated.  —  4069  R  scho  sail.  —  4070  R  Nouther.  —  4071  R  Till,  kyng, 
gyfen.  —  4072  R  scho  sail.  — 4073  R  kyng.  —  4074  R  >air.  —  4075  R  has.  —  4076 
R  gyfen,  be  ryght,  skyll,  JTscill.  —  4077  R  sail. 


THE   SEVEN    SAGES  137 

Na  mare  on  fe  fan  wil  }>ai  craue, 

Ne  na  mare  mak  noyse  ne  cri; 

Hame  [>ai  wil  wend  hastyly.'  4080 

"  J>e  king  toke  kownsail  of  fis  thing 
At  his  barons  aid  and  jing, 
How  he  sold  deme  f  e  rauens  twa  : 
Whilk  sold  hir  haue  and  whilk  forga. 
J>an  al  his  barons  talde  him  to,  4085 

How  fat  fam  thoght  best  to  do. 
Bi  kownsail  of  barown  and  knyght 
J>e  king  gaf  dome  by  reson  right. 
He  went  byfor  fa  rauens  thre, 

And  stode  fat  fai  al  myght  him  se.  4090 

J>e  rauens  cried  als  fai  war  won  ; 
J>e  king  spak  vnto  fam  sone, 
And  said  fat  fe  female  sold  ay 
Dwel  with  hym,  both  night  and  day, 
J>at  kepid  hir  fra  noyes  sen?  4095 

In  fat  tyme  fat  fe  corn  was  der<?; 
And  he  fat  put  hir  fan  him  fra, 
By  reson  he  sal  hyr  forga : 
He  lufed  hir  noght,  fis  es  sertayn, 
J>at  wald  with  hunger  sho  had  bene  slayne.         4100 

"  When  fe  alder  rauen  of  fe  twa 
Herd  fe  king  gif  fe  dome  swa, 
He  made  a  cri  and  rewful  mane ; 
J?areof  had  meruayl  many  ane. 

On  his  maner  he  morned  fast,  4105 

And  with  swilk  playnt  oway  he  past. 
J>e  king  herd  and  saw  al  fis  ; 


4078  R  will.  —  4079  R  no,  noys,  cry.  —  4080^  will  wende  hastily.  —  4081  R 
kyng,  counsail. — 4082  ^Falde,  R  yhing.  —  4083  R  suld.  —  4084  R  suld.  —  4085  R 
all,  tald.  —  4087  R  counsail,  baroune  and  of.  —  4088  R  kyng,  bi,  ryght.  —  4089 
R  bi  for.  —  4090  Worn,  al,  R  all.  —  4091  R  cryed,  wone.  —  4092^  kyng,  JF"son. — 
4093  R  suld.  —  4094  R  Dwell,  nyght.  —  4095  R  keped,  fro.  —  4096  Wont.  \>e. — 
4098  R  Be,  sail  hir.  —  4099  R  is  sertaine.  —  4100  R  sch,  slaine.  —  4101  R  elder. 
—  4102  R  kyng  gyf.  —  4103  R  cry,  rewfull.  —  4104  R  ]>ar  of,  nufruail. —  4105  R 
Jris  instead  of  his,  manere,  murned. — 4107  R  kyng,  all. 


138  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

In  hert  he  had  ful  mekil  blys. 

J>a  ofer  gan  faire  fethers  shake, 

And  mekil  myrth  fan  gan  fai  make;  4110 

J>ai  toke  a  flight  \_and~\  flow  oway; 

]?is  thoght  fe  king  a  nobil  play. 

J>e  child  he  gert  bifore  hym  call, 

Right  fare  omang  his  barons  all : 

He  held  him  quaynt  and  wonder  wise;  4115 

And  ful  wele  quit  he  his  seruise. 

"J>e  king  gaf  him,  fare  in  fat  place, 
Hys  doghter,  als  fe  couenant  was, 
And  half  his  kingdom,  grete  and  small, 
And  efter  hym  for  to  haue  all.  4120 

Now  has  fat  childe  so  mekil  thing, 
He  may  be  felow  with  erl  and  king. 

"Opon  a  day  he  hym  bythoght        [47  d] 
On  hys  fader  fat  him  forth  broght, 
And  on  his  moder  fat  hym  bare.  4125 

J?an  in  grete  pouert  fallen  f ai  ware ; 
]?ai  went  for  shame  fra  faire  cuntre, 
And  come  and  wond  in  fat  cete 
Whare  faire  son  was  lord  and  king. 
Bot  fai  ne  wist  noght  of  fat  thing;  4130 

Ne  he  wist  noght  fat  fai  war  fare, 
Ne  noght  he  knew  of  faire  mysfare. 
Bot  als  he  lay  opon  a  nyght, 
In  a  dreme  fan  thoght  him  right, 
J>at  he  was  warned  in  visiowne,  4*35 

His  fader  and  moder  was  in  f e  town ; 
It  bad  he  sold  tak  fam  hym  till, 
And  also  wirk  what  war  faire  will. 

4108  y?  full  mykell.  —  4109  R  J?air,  schake.  —  4110  R  mykell.  —  4111,4112  j? 
first  half  of  line  obliterated.  —  A,\\\  R  . .  yght,  MS.  om.  and.  —  4112^  kyng,  noble. 
—  4113  R  bi  for  him.  —  4114  R  Ryght.  — 4116  R  full,  quytt,  W om.  he,  R  he  him 
his.  —  4117  R  kyng.  —  4118  R  His,  conand  wase.  —  4119  R  kyngdom  gret. — 
4120  R  him.  —  4121  R  haues,  child,  mykell.  —  4122  R  kyng.  —  4123  R  him 
bi  thoght— 4124  W,  R  his,  R  furth.  — 4125  R  him.  — 4126  R  gret.  — 4127  R 
schame,  J>air  centre.  —  4129  R  )>air,  kyng.  —  4132  R  J>air. —  4134  R  ryght. — 4135 
R  visyoune.  —  4136  R  toune.  —  4137  R  suld,  him  tyll.  —  4138  R  all  so,  W  thare. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  139 

"At  morn  )>e  childe  cald  seriantes  twa, 
And  bad  }>ai  sold  his  erand  ga,  4140 

Preuely  into  ]>e  towne, 
And  spir  in  stretes,  vp  and  downe, 
Eftef  a  man  of  strange  cuntre 
Newly  cuwen,  hys  whife  and  he  :  — 

*  His  name  es  Gerard  Nories  son ;  4145 
Wayt  praiely  whar<?  ]>ai  mai  won.' 

When  J>ai  him  fand,  he  bad  ]?am  say 

J>at  fai  war  welkuw  alway 

To  soiorn  in  fat  same  cete,  — 

And  at  J>e  king  himself  wald  se  4150 

Of  )>aire  fare  and  of  faire  life, 

Bath  of  him  and  of  his  wife  ; 

And  bid  }>am  ordain  alkins  thing 

On  fe  morn  to  kepe  }>e  king, 

Mete  and  drink  bath  gude  and  fine: —  4155 

'  For  my  wil  es  with  }>am  to  dine.' 

"J>e  seriantes  went  with  hert  glad, 
And  spird  obowt  als  he  )>am  bad  ; 
Vp  and  down  }>ai  spirred  ful  fast, 
So  ]>at  fai  fand  }>am  at  )>e  last.  4160 

When  fai  had  funden  J>at  man  vnkowth, 
J>ai  hailsed  him  mildely  with  mowth. 

*  Sir,'  ]>ai  said  withouten  leseing, 
'  Wele  ]>e  gretes  )>e  gong  kyng. 

And,  sir,  he  sendes  ]>e  word  with  me  4165 

J>at  he  wil  cum  and  dyne  with  pe 
Tomorn  at  prime,  withowten  delay  ; 
parfon?  his  mete  luke  je  puruay.' 


4139  R  child. — 4140  R  suld.  — 4141  R  toune.  —  4142  R  spyr,  doune. — 4143 
R  After,  straunge  centre.  —  4144  R  comen  his  wife.  —  4145  R  noryes.  —  4146  W 
priuely,  R  may.  —  4148  R  welcom  all  way.  —  4150  R  kyng.  —  4151  W  their,  R 
>air  fair,  j>air  lyfe. — 4152  R  Both,  wyfe.  —  4153  W  bad,  R  byd,  ordaine  alkyns. 
—  4154  R  kyng.  —  4155  R  drynk,  W  bathe,  R  bothe  gud,  fyne.  —  4156  R  will, 
dyne.  —  4158  R  spyrd  o  bout.  —  4159  R  doune,  spyrd  full.  —  4161  R  fonden, 
vncouth.  —  4162  R  myldely.  —  4163  R  lesyng.  —  4164  R  yhong.  —  4166  R  will 
come. — 4167  R  pryme  w/t/4  outen. — 4168  R  J>arfor,  yhe. 


140  THE   SEVEN    SAGES 

1  Sertanly,  sirs/  fan  sayd  he, 

*  J>e  king  es  ful  welkuw  to  me,       [48  a]  4170 

And  swilk  gode,  sirs,  als  we  haue 

Vnto  ]>e  king  w[e]  vowche  it  saue.' 

Vntil  his  whif  he  sayd  in  hy  : 

'  Dame,  in  hert  I  am  sary 

J>at  we  haue  noght  al  ful  plente  4175 

To  welkuw  swilk  a  lord  als  he.' 

"  ]?e  gude  wife  said:  'Sir,  greues  jow  noght; 
What  so  vs  wantes  sal  sone  be  boght, 
So  fat  he  sal  be  wele  at  ayse.' 

Vnto  fe  seriantes  fan  sho  sais:  4180 

'Al  fat  we  haue,  sirs,  in  al  thing 
Es  redy  vnto  mi  lord  fe  king.' 
J>e  seriantes  went  fan  hame  ogayn, 
And  sayd  fe  king  fir  sawes  sertayn : 
How  fat  fai  had  funden  fe  man,  4185 

And  how  fat  he  fam  answerd  fan. 
J>an  was  fe  king  ful  glad  in  hert 
f>at  fai  wan?  hale  and  in  quert. 

"  On  f e  morn  he  toke  a  litel  menje, 
And  to  his  fader  fan  wendes  he.  4190 

He  rides  right  til  his  fader  dor<?; 
Seriantes  of  mace  went  him  bifor<?. 
Right  at  fe  dore  fan  down  he  lyght, 
And  went  into  fe  hows  ful  right. 
J>e  godeman  welkuwed  fayr<?  fe  kyng,  4195 

Bot  of  him  had  he  na  kn awing  ; 
J>e  whife  him  welkuwd  als  ful  rath  ; 


4169  R  Sertainly,  R,  JFsaid. —  4170  R  kyng,  full  welcom.  —  4171  R  gud  syrs. 

—  4172  R  kyng,  vouche,  MS.  om.  e  of  we.  —  4173  W  Vntill,  R  vn  tyll,  wife,  said. — 
4175  R  all  full.  —  4176  R  welcom,  kyng  instead  of  lord.  —  4177  R  gud  wyfe,  yhow. 

—  4178  R  sail.  — 4179  R  sail.  — 4180  R  scho  says.  — 4181  R  All,  all.  — 4182  W 
my,  R  kyng.  —  4183  R  ogayne.  —  4184  R  said,  kyng,  wordes  instead  of  sawes,  ser- 
tayne.  —  4185   R  fonden.  —  4187  R  kyng  full.  —  4188  R   war,    in   gud  quert. — 
4189  R  lytell  meneyhe.  —  4191   R  rydes  ryght  tyll.  —  4192  R  bi  for.  —  4193  R 
Ryght,  doune.  —  4194  R  full  ryght.  —  4195  R  gud  man  welcomd  fair.  —  4196^ 
no  knawyng. — 4197  R  wife,  welcomd,  full  rathe,  W  welkumed. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  141 

f>e  kyng  thanked  blithly  fam  bath. 

J>e  kinges  dener  wele  was  grayd ; 

f>ai  set  trestes  and  hordes  on  layd,  4200 

J?ai  spred  clathes  and  salt  on  set, 

And  made  redy  vnto  fe  mete ; 

f>ai  set  forth  water  and  towell. 

Herkens  now  how  it  bifell : 

In  a  gude  kape  fe  king  gan  stand,  4205 

Als  custume  was  fan  in  fat  land. 

"When  fai  gaf  water  vnto  J>e  king, 
J>e  fader  saw  fe  sleue  down  hing; 
He  stirt  f  arto  and  held  it  vp, 

For  water  sold  noght  faron  drop.  4210 

f>e  godewife  gan  biforc  him  stand, 
With  a  towayl  to  wipe  his  hand  ; 
Sho  honorde  him  at  al  hir  myght. 
And  when  fe  king  saw  fis  in  sight, 
A  squier  he  gert  fe  towayl  take ;  4215 

And  to  his  moder  fan  he  spake, 
And  to  his  fader  in  fat  place.      [48  b] 
*  Fader,'  he  said,  'thurgh  Goddes  grace, 
Fulfild  es  now  fe  crakes  crying, 
pat  talde  bifon?  of  al  fis  thing:  4220 

How  fat  I  sold  be  recher  man, 
And  haue  more  welth  fan  ge  had  fan ; 
And  for  I  sayd  it  sold  so  be, 
Sir,  je  kest  me  in  fe  se.' 

"When  fe  fader  herd  fis  tale,  4225 

In  his  hert  he  had  grete  bale. 
Al  fa  wordes  ful  wele  he  knew; 
He  was  so  ferd  him  changed  hew. 

4198  R  blythely,  bathe.  —  4199  R  kynges  dyner.  —  4200  R  sett  trystes.  —  4201  R 
sette.  —  4203  R  sett.  —  4205  R  gud,  kyng.  —  4207  R  Whan,  kyng.  —  4208  R  doune 
hyng.  —  4209  R  styrt  >are  to.  —  4210  R  suld,  }>are  on.  —  4211  R  gud  wife,  bi  for. 

—  4212  R  towell,  wype.  —  4213  R  Scho  honowrd,  all. — 4214  R  kyng,  syght  — 
4215  R  squyer,  towell.  —  4218  R  godes. — 4219  R  ffull  fyld.  —  4220  W,  R  tald,  R 
all.  —  4221  R  suld,  rycher.  —  4222  R  yhe. — 4223  R  said,  suld.  —  4224  R  yhe,  see. 

—  4226  R  gret.  —  4227  R  All,  full.  — 4228  R  chaunged. 


142  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

He  wend  his  son  fan  sold  him  sla, 

For  fat  he  had  hym  serued  swa.  4230 

Bot  fe  kyng  kissed  fam  both  in  fere, 

And  said:  'Bese  meri,  and  mase  gude  chere; 

For  ge  sal  be  in  ioy  and  blis, 

And  nonekins  myrthes  sal  je  mys.' 

J>e  king  gaf  sone  into  f  air<?  handes  4235 

New  tenementes  and  riche  landes, 

And  gold  and  syluer  grete  plente ; 

His  fader  and  moder  Jms  helpid  he." 

f>us  fis  tale  was  broght  til  ende  ; 
And  Florentine  with  wordes  hende,  4240 

And  with  reuerence  and  grete  honowre, 
Sayd  to  his  fader,  fe  Empmjwre: 
"Fader,  on  fis  wise  wald  je, 
Ogayns  f  e  right,  haue  gert  sla  me  ; 
And  fully  haue  je  bene  my  fa.  4245 

Der<?  fader,  why  do  ge  swa  1 
I  trispast  na  mar<?  fan  did  he, 
J>e  childe  fat  was  kast  in  f  e  se ; 
And  if  I  myght  come  to  honowr<? 
For  to  be  king  or  empmDwr<?,  4250 

Wene  ge  fat  I  wald  greue  jow? 
Nay,  sir,  fat  sal  ge  neuer  trow. 
Drawen  and  brend  are  wald  I  be 
Or  I  wald  greue  my  fader  fre. 

And,  fader,  jowre  wife,  weterly,  4255 

Wald  haue  gert  me  lig  hir  by  ; 
Bot  I  had  leuer  haue  died  als  sone 
J>an  fat  dede  to  gow  haue  done." 

4229  R  suld.  —  4230  W,  R  him.  —  423 1  R  kyssed.  —  4232  R  mery,  gud.  —  4233  R 
yhe  sail,  blys. — 4234  R  nonekyns,  sail  yhe.  —  4235  R  kyng  gafe,  }>air.  —  4236  R 
ryche.  —  4237  R  gret.  —  4238  R  helped. — 4239  R  tyll,  Wend.  —  4240  R  ffloren- 
tyne.  —  4241  R  om.  first  And,  but  inserts  w/'t/fc  after  second  and  ;  R  gret  honoure.  — 
4242  R  Emperoure.  —  4243  R  yhe.  —  4244  R  ryght.  —  4245  R  yhe.  —  42467?  whi, 
yhe.  —  4247  R  tryspast  no  more,  dyd. — 4248  R  child.  —  4249  R  com,  honowre. — 
4250  R  kyng,  Emp<rroure.  — 4251  R  yhe,  yhow.  —  4252  R  sail  yhe.  —  4253  R  brent. 
—  4255  R  yho«r,  witerly.  —  4256  R  lyg.  — 4257  R  dyed.  —  4258  A'  yhow. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  143 

When  }>e  Emp<?rour<?  herd  how  he  sayd, 
Of  )>at  poynt  he  was  noght  payd  ;  4260 

And  sone  he  sent  efter  his  whife, 
J>at  him  had  made  so  mekil  strife. 

"Dame,"  he  sayd,  "  es  pis  soth  thing?" 
"  ^a,  sir,"  sho  sayd,  "  by  heuyn  kyng  •,      [48  c] 
He  says  al  soth  in  Jris  sesowne,  4265 

And  I  sal  say  by  what  resowne : 
For  he  sold  do  na  harm  J>e  till, 
.And  also  for  J>is  sertayne  skyll, 
J>at  mi  sons  sold  be  na  bastardes, 
Bot  haue  \\  landes  and  be  grete  lardes.  4270 

"And,  sir,  I  dred  me  jit  alswa 
J>at  he  sold  haue  ]?e  empire  ]>e  fra, 
Hercefter  when  ]>ou  cums  on  elde 
And  may  noght  wele  fiseluen  welde  ; 
J>arfore  I  wald  haue  had  him  dede,  4275 

]?at  my  barnes  might  be  in  J>i  stede. 
And  on  ]>is  wise,  sir,  haue  I  soght 
To  ger  hym  vnto  ded  be  broght." 

"A!  dame,"  said  }>e  Empm>wr<?, 
"f>ou  haues  bene  a  fals  gilowre,  4280 

And  with  ]>{  treson  done  me  tene  ; 
f>at  sal  now  on  fiself  be  sene; 
For  )>i  gaudes  and  ]>i  gilry 
I  gif  ]>is  dome  J>at  pou  sal  dy. 

Sakles  ]>ou  wald  my  son  haue  slayne ;  4285 

J>iself  sal  haue  J?e  same  payne ; 
f>i  witchecraft  and  ]>i  sorceri 
Sal  ])ou  now  ful  den?  aby. 

4259  R  Emp<?rour. —  4260  W  payde. — 4261  R  sent  men,  wyfe. — 4262  R 
mykell  stryfe.  — 4263  R  said,  ^"sothe.  —  4264  R  Yha,  scho  said  bi  heuen.  —  4265 
Worn,  al,  R  als,  sesoune. —  4266  R  sail,  be,  resoune.  —  4267  R  suld,  no  harme, 
tyll.  —  4268  R  sertaine,  W  skill.  —  4269  R  suld,  no.  —  4270  R  gret.  —  4271  W 
drede,  R  yhit  all  swa.  —  4272  R  suld,  Empyre.  —  4273  R  comes,  eld.  —  4274  R 
weld.  —  4275  R  J?ar  for,  ded.  —  4276  R  myght. — 4278  Wt  R  him.  —  4279  R  Em- 
peroure.  —  4280  W  ben,  R  giloure.  —  4282  R  sail.  —  4283  W  gandes,  R  gylry.  — 
4284  R  gyf ,  sail.  —  4286  R  sail.  —  4287  W  witchcraft,  R  wyche  craft,  sorcery. 
—  4288  R  Sail,  full. 


144  THE   SEVEN   SAGES 

J>ou  grantes  piself  here  al  ]>e  gilt ; 

J>arfore  es  reson  J>ou  be  spilt.  4290 

If  J?ou  lifed  lenger,  it  war  wath, 

For  ful  sone  wald  }>ou  shend  vs  bath  ; 

And  sen  ]>ou  grantes  ]>i  werkes  wrang, 

It  nedes  no  quest  on  }>e  to  gang. 

J>ou  ert  worthy  fe  ded  to  take,  4295 

By  rightwis  dome,  for  my  son  sake." 

J>e  Empm)ure  gert  bifor  hym  call 
His  knightes  and  hys  menje  all, 
And  sayd :  "  Sirs,  smertly  for  my  sake, 
A  grete  fire  ]?at  ge  ger  make,  4300 

Hastily  at  J?e  towns  end; 
For  faryn  sal  pis  whif  be  brend, 
With  mekyl  dole,  )>is  day  or  none, 
For  ]>e  tresown  fat  sho  has  done  ; 
And  loke  je  span?  hyr  neueradele,  4305 

For  sho  has  serued  it  ful  wele." 
f>e  barons  war  al  of  ane  asent, 
J>at  sho  sold  haue  ]>at  same  iugeme^t. 
And  al  }>e  knyghtes  fast  gan  cri : 
"  Do  to  ded  ]?at  fals  lady,  4310 

J?at  with  hir  wichecraft  and  hir  rede     [48  d] 
Wald  haue  gert  pe  childe  be  ded !  " 

Sone  ]?ai  made,  onane  right, 
A  faire  fire,  brinand  ful  bright. 

f>an  )>ai  tok  J>at  faire  lady;  4315 

Yt  helpid  hyr  noght  to  ask  mercy. 
J>ai  band  hir  fast,  bath  fote  and  hand, 
J>at  sho  myght  nowj>er  rise  ne  stand. 

4289  R  grannies,  gylt,  om.  al.  —  4290  R  >ar  for,  spylt.  —  4291  R  lyfed  lengar. 
—  4292  R  full,  schend.  —  4293  R  grauntes. — 4296  R  Be  ryghtwise. —  4297 
R  Emperour,  W,  R  him.  —  4298  R  knyghtes,  W,  R  his,  R  meneyhe.  —  4299  R 
said  Syrs,  JfSir.  —  4300  R  fyre,  yhe.  —  4301  fftownes,  R  tonnes  ende.  —  4302  R 
)>are  in  sail,  wife.  —  4303  R  mykell.  —  4304  R  treson,  scho.  —  4305  R  yhe,  hir. — 
4306  R  scho,  full.  —  4307  R  all,  assent.  —  4308  R  scho  suld.  —  4309  R  all,  cry. — 
4312  R  child,  dede.  —  4313  R  ryght.  —  4314  A'fayr  fyre  brynand  full  bryght.  —  4315 
JFfayr,  R  fair.  — 4316  R  helped  hir.  —  4317  R  both.  —  4318  R  scho,  nouther  ryse. 


THE   SEVEN   SAGES  145 

Hir  fete  )>ai  fest  vnto  hir  swyre, 

And  lete  hir  flye  in  myddes  )>e  fire.  4320 

}?us  was  fe  ladies  ending  day, 

And  ]>us  was  sho  quit  her  iornay. 

f>e  childe  lifed  with  grete  honowr^, 

And  eiter  his  fader  was  Emperoure, 

And  led  his  life  with  werkes  wise,  4325 

And  ended  se]?[e]n  in  Goddes  seruyse. 

J>usgate  endes  al  Jns  thing; 

Ihmi  grante  vs  his  blyssyng ! 

AMEN. 

4320  R  fyre.  —  4321  R  ladyse  endyng. —  4322  R  scho  quyt,  W  jornay,  R 
iournay.  —  4323  R  child  lyfed,  gret  honowre.  —  4325  R  lyfe,  wyse. — 4326  MS. 
sej>n,  R  sythen,  godes.  —  4327  R  all.  —  4328  W  Jesu,  R  graunt,  Wblessyng. 


NOTES 


ABBREVIATIONS 

A:  Auchinleck  MS.,  published  by  Weber,  Metrical  Romances,  III,  pp.  8  f. 

A*:  the  group  of  MSS.  typified  by  the  O.  F.  prose  text  published  in  part  by  Leroux  de 
Lincy,  Roman  des  Sept  Sages,  pp.  79  f . 

Ar:  MS.  Arundel  140  (unpublished). 

As:  the  Asloan  MS.  (unpublished). 

B:  MS.  Balliol  354  (unpublished). 

C :  MS.  Cotton  Galba  E.  ix,  published  in  the  present  volume. 

cr :  the  lost  M.  E.  MS.  whence  C  and  R  were  copied. 

D:  Cambridge  University  MS.  Dd.  I.  17,  published  by  Wright,  Percy  Society  Publica- 
tions, xvi,  pp.  i  f . 

D*:  "Version  De~rimee,"  published  by  G.  Paris,  Deux  Redactions  du  Roman  des  Sept 
Sages,  pp.  i  f . 

E:  MS.  Egerton  1995  (unpublished). 

F:  Cambridge  University  MS.  Ff.  II.  38  (unpublished). 

H  :  the  group  of  MSS.  and  editions  typified  by  the  Historia  Septem  Sapientum,  published 
by  G.  Buchner,  Erlanger  Beitr'dge,  V,  pp.  7  f.,  and  others. 

I:  "  Versio  Italica,"  a  group  of  Italian  and  Latin  redactions,  MSS.  of  which  have  been 
published  by  Cappelli,  Mussafia,  and  others. 

K :  the  O.  F.  metrical  version  published  by  Keller. 

L :  the  O.  F.  prose  version  published  by  Leroux  de  Lincy,  Roman  des  Sept  Sages,  pp.  i  f . 

M:  "La  Male  Marrastre "  (unpublished). 

R:  MS.  Rawlinson  Poet.  175  (unpublished;  but  its  variants  from  C  appear  in  the  foot- 
notes to  this  edition). 

S :  the  Latin  prose  version  preserved  in  the  Scala  Celt,  and  republished  by  Goedeke,  Orient 
und  Occident,  III,  pp.  402  f. 

W :  Weber's  edition  of  A. 

x  :  the  lost  M.  E.  MS.  whence  y  and  D  were  derived. 

Y :  the  group  of  M.  E.  MSS.  (A,  Ar,  E,  B,  F,  C,  R)  derived  from  y. 

y :  the  lost  M.  E.  MS.  whence  Y  was  derived.  • 


148 


NOTES 


Proces.  Abbreviated  only  in  C.  For  abbreviations  in  both  C  and  R,  see  the 
Introduction,  pp.  Ixix  and  Ixxi  respectively. 

1.  here.    The  curled  r,  of  which  C  is  very  fond,  is  printed  re.    R  never  has  the 
curled  r,  but  uses  instead  r  or  re.    See  note  on  1.  30  (ayre)  for  final  re  in  C. 

2.  gowre.    Always  spelled  with  a  5  except  in  1.  2700  (yowre).  —  The  letter 
S  in  C  is  graphically  the  same  as  z  (see  note  to  1.  491).    R  has  yh  where  C  has 
palatal  5.    Weber  consistently  substitutes  y  for  the  palatal  5.    No  account  of  this 
substitution  is  taken  in  the  footnotes. 

and.  C  abbreviates  and  both  initially  and  medially  except  in  11.  1059,  2684, 
3289,  and  4255.  R  always  spells  out  initial  and,  but  abbreviates  and  medially,  with 
only  a  few  exceptions.  In  11.  29,  42,  74,  R  abbreviates  only  the  n  in  and. 

3.  Repeated  in  1.  256.    Other  lines  repeated  are  40  (=  3194),  439  (=  457)»  631 
(=2181),  2363  (=3051),  and  2577  (=3061).    For  lines  identical  except  for  one 
word,  see  note  to  1.  10. 

tome,  leisure.  Also  in  11.  256  and  980,  and  not  uncommon  in  other  texts. 
Weber  remarks  in  his  Glossary  that  tome  is  "  a  curious  alteration  of  the  word 
time  for  the  sake  of  the  rhyme." 

6.  Dyoclician.    All  M.  E.  versions  call  the  Emperor  Diocletian  ;  so  likewise  do 
the  O.  F.  versions  A*,  L,  and  S.    Of  other  versions  H  reads  Pontianus ;  K,  Ves- 
pasian ;   D*,   Marcomeris,  the  son  of   Priam  ;  and  the   Dolopathos,  Dolopathos. 
Diocletian  figures  also  in  the  Erl  of  Tolous. 

7.  Rome.    The  scene  of  The  Seven  Sages  is  laid  in  Rome  in  all  western  ver- 
sions except  K  and  D*,  in  which  at  the  beginning  of  the  story  the  Emperor  is 
ruling  in  Constantinople. 

10.  J?e  fayrest  lady  J?at  bare  life.    Repeated,  except  for  the  interchange  of 
had  with  bare,  in  1.  3272.    For  other  lines  identical  except  for  one  word,  see  the 
notes  to  11.  79,  123,  1153,  1765,  1836,  2368,  and  3022.    For  lines  entirely  identical, 
see  note  to  1.  3. 

11.  auenant.    Weber    reads    auenaunt.     Other    instances    of    inaccuracy   in 
Weber's  text  are  indicated  in  the  footnotes  to  11.  15,  46,  54,  56,. 57,  63,  72,  78,  86, 
90,  92,  93,  97,  etc. 

12.  Milisant.    This  name  for  the  Empress  seems  to  be  peculiar  to  Y;   it 
appears  elsewhere  only  in  B  and  F,  however,  for  E  is  silent  as  to  her  name  and 
the  text  of  A  and  Ar  is  wanting  at  this  point.    D  calls  the  Empress  Helie.    As, 
like  E,  does  not  mention  her  name.    D*  says  that  she  was  the  daughter  of  the 
king  of  Carthage.    The  Welsh  version  calls  her  Eva.    In  the  Dolopathos  she  is 
known  as  Auguste. 

149 


150  NOTES 

14.  J>e  fayrest  J?at  on  fote  myght  go.    See  also  "  pe  fayrest  lady  }>at  bare 
life,"  1.  10,  and  "  pe  fairest  lady  J>at  had  lyfe,"  1.  3272.    A  list  of  typical  expres- 
sions similar  to  these  is  given  by  Kittredge  in  Studies  and  Notes,  I,  p.  36  f., 
where  attention  is  also  called  to  the  frequency  of  such  expressions  in  M.  E. 

15.  knaue.    The  final  e  appears  to  be 'syllabic.    There  are,  however,  only  afew 
instances  in  which  the  final  e  has  syllabic  value ;  see  the  Introduction,  p.  Ixxiii. 

17.  This  line  does  not  begin  with  a  rubricated  letter  in  the  MS.,  but  is  preceded 
by  a  flourish  in  red  and  blue,  which  I  take  to  indicate  paragraph  division.  Some- 
times, however,  as  in  11.  2491,  2903,  3555,  this  flourish  appears  where  there  is  no 
logical  justification  for  paragraph  division,  and  I  have  accordingly  disregarded  it. 
In  other  instances  this  flourish  is  omitted  where  the  thought  clearly  calls  for 
indentation;  as  in  11.  363,  1435,  1817,  1955,  etc. 

18.  D  reserves  mention  of  the  death  of  the  first  Empress  until  just  before  its 
account  of   the  marriage  to   the   second  Empress.  —  According  to  H  the  first 
Empress  on  her  death-bed  sends  for  the  Emperor  and  tells  him  that  she  knows 
he  will  marry  again,  but  requests  that  the  second  wife  shall  have  "  no  power  nor 
governaunce  "  over  the  Prince  and  that  he  be  reared  far  away  from  court  and  not 
under  her  tuition. 

21.  WheJ?er.    Medially  C  sometimes  has  J>,  sometimes  th  ;  R  avoids  £  medially. 

23,  24.  aide  :  balde.  A  very  common  rhyme  in  M.  E.  romance  ;  see  Kolbing's 
note  to  Sir  Beues  (A),  1.  52  f.  and  Hall's  note  to  King  Horn  (L  and  0),  11.  17,  18. 

25.  Florentine.  Both  MSS.  spell  with  ff  instead  of  F,  ff  being  regularly 
used  for  capital  F.  R  is  more  partial  to_^~  than  is  C,  using  it  often  where  there  is 
no  occasion  for  capitalizing. 

The  name  Florentine,  like  Militant,  is  peculiar  to  Y ;  it  appears  here  and  in 
A,  E,  B,  and  F,  the  text  of  Ar  at  this  point  having  been  lost.  D  and  most  of  the 
O.  F.  versions  are  silent  as  to  the  Prince's  name.  As  and  H  call  the  Prince  Dio- 
cletian ;  I  calls  him  Stephen,  and  the  Dolopathos,  Lucinius.  —  How  the  name 
Florentine  came  to  be  used  in  Y  is  not  clear.  It  is  possible  that  it  is  due  to  the 
influence  of  the  romance  of  Octovian,  in  which  one  of  the  princes  who  figure  in 
the  story  is  called  Florentine  (variant,  Florent) ;  see  Octovian,  11.  311,  686,  703,  759, 
789,  etc.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  possible  that  the  Octovian  was  influenced  by  The 
Seven  Sages,  though  this  is  unlikely,  since  the  name  Florent  appeared  in  the  O.  F. 
original  of  the  M.  E.  Octovian.  The  name  Florentine  also  occurs  in  some  of  the 
O.  F.  manuscripts  of  Amis  and  Amiloun  (see  Kolbing,  AltengL  Bibk.,  II,  p.  cxxvii) ; 
and,  in  its  briefer  form,  in  Gower's  "  Tale  of  Florent,"  Conf.  Amant.,  Bk.  1, 11.  1407  f. 

28.  whise.  See  also  whise  (or  whiter),  11.  154,  334,  2799;  wharm,  1.  2906; 
whif  (or  whife),  11.  1559,  I593>  1598,  etc.;  and  whit,  1.  3741.  In  some  instances, 
however,  a  w  is  used  instead  of  wh ;  see  wat,  1.  2962  ;  wen,  11.  1131  and  2315 ;  and 
wils,  1.  1344. 

30.  ayre.    C  has  final  re  rather  than  curled  r  in  about  forty  instances ;  see 
11.  115,  143,  208,  508,  520,  etc. 

31.  It  was  nothing.    For  other  instances  of  it  was  (or  it  es)  where  Mod.  Eng. 
uses  there  was  (or  there  is),  see  11.  750,  1 101,  and  1877.   Morris,  Pricke  of  Conscience, 
p.   xviii,  observes   that  the   construction   is   frequent  in  the   Northern  dialect. 


NOTES  151 

Kellner,  Engl.  Syntax,  p.  179,  instances  no  less  than  six  examples  of  it  from  the 
first  2500  lines  of  the  Cursor  Mundi. 

53.  Bancillas.  Except  for  As,  the  names  of  the  sages  are  essentially  the  same 
in  all  M.  E.  MSS.,  —  Bancillas,  Anxilles,  Lentilioun,  Malquidras,  Caton,  Jesse,  and 
Maxencius.  In  As  they  are  called  Bantillas,  Anupullus,  Lentalus,  Catone,  Mai- 
come,  Ampustinus,  and  Cratone.  In  L  and  A*  their  names  are  the  same  as  in  this 
edition  except  that  Merons  appears  there  instead  of  Maxencius.  In  H  their  names 
are  Bantillas,  Lentulus,  Katho  (or  Craton),  Malquidrac,  Josephus,  Cleophas,  and 
Joachim,  in  the  order  given.  —  Whence  the  name  Bancillas  is  derived  it  is  impos- 
sible to  say.  Cassel  (Mischle  Sindbad,  p.  225)  takes  Bancillas  and  Anxilles  to  be 
variants  of  the  same  name,  which  he  holds  is  Sibylla. 

66.  Anxilles.  Is  it  possible  that  Michael  Anchialus,  a  philosopher  and  writer 
of  Antioch  in  the  twelfth  century,  is  the  original  of  this  name  ?  See  note  to  1.  53 
for  Cassel's  suggestion  of  a  derivation  from  Sibylla. 

68.  him  semed.    Other  instances  of  the  impersonal  verb  with  its  grammatical 
subject  unexpressed  occur  in  11.  91,  223,  226,  296,  340,  442,  449,  472,  693,  695,  780, 
814,934,975,  1146,  1181,  1509,  1522, 1570,  1582, 1619,  1669,  1777,  1810,  1811,  1865, 
1907,  1999,  2052,  2425,  2431,  2563,  2663,  2747,  2815,  2850,  2853,  2872,  2905,  2970, 

2994.  3I59»  3l69»  3!96»  32I5>  3243>  3343>  3388»  34oo,  3476,  36lo»  3633>3747»  3794, 
4050,  4086,  4134.  In  all  except  eighteen  of  these  instances  a  pronoun  in  the 
dative  case  precedes  the  verb.  In  seventeen  instances  the  verb  is  think  (A.  S. 
fryncari),  or  its  preterite,  thoght. 

69.  Of  sexty  winter.    Peculiar  to  this  text. 

76.  sex  sere.    F  reads  five  years  ;  L  (A*),  seven  years  ;  D*,  two  years. 

78.  white  als  swan.    There  are  five  other  such  comparisons  hi  the  poem ;  see 
11.  122,  1012,  3110,  3112,  and  3282. 

79.  Identical  with  1.  121  except  that  blayke  there  takes  the  place  of  white  here. 
See  notes  to  11.  10  and  3. 

nathing  brown.  See  Kolbing,  note  to  Sir  Tristrem,  1.  2313;  and  Kittredge, 
Studies  and  Notes,  I,  p.  62  f .  "  This  trick  of  reinforcing  a  word  by  adding  to  it  the 
negative  of  a  word  of  opposite  meaning  is,"  says  Kittredge  (I.e.,  p.  62  f.),  "  one  of 
the  most  familiar  stylistic  mannerisms  of  Middle  English  versifiers." 

80.  Lentilioune.    Derived  from  Publius  Cornelius  Lentulus,  politician  and  con- 
spirator (put  to  death  B.C.  63),  or  from  some  other  one  of  the  prominent  Romans 
who  bore  the  name  Lentulus. 

84.  This  line  in  both  C  and  R  has  but  three  stresses ;  other  lines  that  are  too 
short  are  601,  1868,  1901,  1918,  2168,  2972,  3021,  3497,  3576. 

86.  seres  fiue.    So  L  (A*)  and  H.    F  reads  five  years ;  D*,  six  years. 

88.  Malquidras.  According  to  Cassel  (Mischle  Sindbad,  p.  224)  derived  from 
Melchior,  but  this  view  is  surely  untenable. 

91.  Him  thoght  scorn.  According  to  W.  van  der  Gaaf,  The  Transition  from 
the  Impersonal  to  the  Personal  Construction  in  M.E.,  Heidelberg,  1904,  p.  115, 
this  idiom  is  very  rare  ;  he  cites  only  one  example  :  "  Hure  thoughte  most  scorn  " 
(Brunne's  Chron.,  \.  2407).  The  construction  with  the  personal  pronoun  as  sub- 
ject, however,  he  shows  to  have  been  common  from  the  fifteenth  century  on. 


152  NOTES 

92.  rosing,  "  boasting,  self -commendation  "  (see  Scottish  roose).  Weber  reads 
josyng,  which  he  defines  as  rejoicing,  adding  that  the  word  is  "  still  used  in  the 
Scottish  dialect " ;  but  neither  the  N.  E.  D.  nor  the  Century  Dictionary  takes 
account  of  any  such  word.  HalliwelPs  entry  of  josyng  in  his  Dictionary  of 
Archaic  and  Provincial  Words  is  doubtless  wholly  traceable  to  Weber's  entry. 

104.  Caton.    Not  Cato  the  Censor  (as  Cassel  suggests,  I.e.,  p.  233),  but  the 
so-called  Dionysius  Cato,  author  of  the  famous  Catonis  Disticha,  which  is  referred 
to  in  the  next  line.    See  Skeat's  note  to  Cant.  Tales,  G,  1.  688.  — The  name  is 
spelled  Craton  in  As  and  H. 

105.  boke  Of  Catoun  =  Catonis  Disticha  de  Moribus  ad  filium. 
115.  seuen  sere.    As  and  H  read  three  years  ;  D*,  five  years. 

119.  lesse.  Cassel  (I.e.,  p.  224)  suggests  that  the  original  of  this  name  is 
Josephus,  the  historian. 

121.  blayke,  "  light,  yellow."    (Cf.  N.  E.  D.  under  Blayke.)    See  L  (A*),  p.  3  : 
"les  cheueus  plus  jaunes  que  cire  merrie  "  ;  and  B,  1.  101  :  "  His  here  was  yelow 
as  the  safferon." 

nothing  broun.    See  note  to  1.  79. 

122.  With  eghen  faire  als  a  faukoun.    B,  the  only  other  one  of  the  M.  E. 
MSS.  that  preserves  this  comparison,  has  (1.  102) :    "  He  looked  lustely  as  a 
Fawcon."    See  note  to  1.  78. 

123.  were.    Apparently  a  substitution  of  the  preterite  for  the  present  in  the 
interest  of  the  rhyme  ;  see  1.  §33,  which  differs  from  this  line  only  in  the  substitu- 
tion of  be  for  were.    Another  instance  of  abnormal  adjustment  of  form  to  rhyme 
is  pointed  out  in  the  note  to  1.  2211. 

126.  inwith.  See  Skeat's  notes  to  Cant.  Tales,  B,  1.  1794,  and  Legend  of 
Good  Women,  1.  86. 

Seres  thre.    So  E,  B,  and  D*.    As  and  H  read  two  years. 

128.  56.    The  other  masters  have  addressed  the  Emperor  as  J>ou,  and  lesse 
has  used  the  possessive  J>i  in  11.  123,  124.    Both  MSS.  use/0z*  and  -$e  indiscrim- 
inately in  addressing  one  person.    See,  for  £<?,  11.  323,  326,  329,  331,  549,  etc.;  for 
J>ou,  11.  72,  342,  343,  344,  347,  426,  etc. 

129.  Maxencius.    Possibly  to  be  traced  to  the  Roman  emperor,  Marcus  Aurelius 
Maxentius,  whose  father  was  a  colleague  of  Diocletian ;  but,  with  greater  likeli- 
hood, to  the   monk  Joannes  Maxentius,  of  the  sixth  century  A.D.    L  (A*)  sub- 
stitutes Merons  for  Maxencius,  which  Cassel  (I.e.,  p.  224) — rightly,  I  think  — 
would  trace  to  the  Maro  of  Virgilius  Maro. 

129  f.  J>e  seuind  Maister,  Maxencius  .  .  .  he.  The  text  affords  sundry  other 
examples  of  the  pleonastic  pronoun  subject  (see  11.  317  f.,  489-490,  531,  811,  884- 
885,  1108,  3145-3146,  3749-3750,  aifd  4247-4248),  but  none  in  which  the  construc- 
tion is  so  loose  and  in  which  the  two  elements  are  so  far  removed  from  each  other. 

130.  right  wis.    Perhaps  to  be  read  as  one  word;  see  rightwis  in  11.  2134, 
3038,  3238,  and  4296.    But  MSS.  and  Weber  divide  as  here;  E,  1.  123  ("The 
vu.  mayster  of  grete  clergy  "),  also  seems  to  favor  this  reading. 

134.  The  text  of  A  begins  with  the  line  corresponding  to  this.  This  line,  which 
does  not  appear  in  Weber's  text,  reads  as  follows :  "  For  J>e  mede  of  mi  seruise." 


NOTES  153 

139.  In  A,  E,  B,  F,  and  L  (A*),  as  here,  the  seventh  sage  stipulates  no  definite 
time  within  which  to  make  good  his  offer ;  in  As,  D*,  and  H  he  specifies  one  year 
as  the  time. 

147-154.  An  amplification  peculiar  to  this  text. 

*5*  •  5e  prefer.  The  pres.  plu.  ind.  with  a  personal  pronoun  subject  in  direct 
contact  with  it  is  regularly  uninflected  in  fourteenth-century  Northern  texts ; 
see  Rodeffer,  The  Inflection  of  the  Pres.  Plu.  Ind.,  Baltimore,  1903.  The  rule 
is  invariably  observed  in  this  text;  see  11.  261,  265,  323,  329,  1891,  2026,  etc. 

169.  f>ai  said  in  Rome  dwel  might  he  noght.  In  As  this  bit  of  counsel  is 
offered  by  Lentulus ;  in  D  and  H,  by  Caton. 

176.  A  myle  fra  toun,  bi  a  reuere.  So  also  A,  E,  B,  and  As.  L  (A*)  has 
merely  "  un  liue  pres  de  Rome." 

180.  erth.  R  reads  erthe,  which  is  probably  the  correct  reading.  The  rhythm 
of  the  line  is  otherwise  exceptionally  bad.  Final  e  is  sometimes  syllabic  in  both 
C  and  R ;  see  note  to  1.  15. 

191.  Ars  Metrike.  See  N.  E.  D.  under  Arithmetic  for  the  confusion  in  M.  E. 
of  ars  metrica  with  arithmetica.  —  E  reads  ars  musike  ;  B,  ars  logike.  R,  probably 
by  error  of  the  scribe,  substitutes  ah  for  Ars. 

193.  child  sege.  The  uninflected  genitive  occurs  twenty-one  times  ;  see  11.  287, 
914,  1126,  1346,  1387,  1430,  1438,  1496,  2053,  2803,  3089,  3131,  3217,  3220,  3364, 
3762,  3778,  3997,  4191,  and  4296.  In  nine  instances  this  genitive  is  followed  by  a 
word  beginning  with  s. 

201-206.  An  amplification  peculiar  to  this  redaction. 

211.  Was  none  so  witty.  See  also  1.  964:  "was  ...  a  ...  forest " ;  1.  1690  : 
"  was  a  king  "  ;  and  1.  2542  :  "  es  none  so  wise  man." 

215.  his  maisters.  According  to  As  it  was  the  wise  Caton  who  first  conceived 
of  this. 

217.  leues  sextene.    L  illogically  reads  "douze  feuilles,"  but  later  corrects  to 
read  as  here. 

218.  iubarb,  the  houseleek.  See  N.  E.  D.  under  Jubarb.    The  N.  E.  D.  quotes 
Holland's  Pliny,  1601,  II,  p.  237  :  "The  lesse  Sengreen  or  Iubarb  groweth  upon 
walls  .  .  .  likewise  upon  the  tiles   of  house-roofs  " ;   and  Bradley's  Family  Dic- 
tionary, 1725,  s.v. :    "  The  Great  Jubarb  is  a  Plant  that  has  great  Pulpy  and  thick 
Leaves,  .  .  .  sharp  at  the  Ends  like  a  Tongue."    R  spells  lubark.    As  reads  edoke 
(see  N.  E.  D.  under  Edocke}.    Other  M.  E.  MSS.  and  the  O.  F.  MSS.  read  ivy. 

222.  foure.  Dissyllabic  apparently ;  so,  also,  foure  (1.  3882),  werld  (1.  448), 
thurgh  (11.  1802,  1851,  3407),  pouer  (1.  2169),  fire  (1.  3112),  and  gold  (11.  3558,3589). 

226-233.  An  independent  addition  of  this  redaction. 

229,  230.  doun :  won.  Apparently  a  slightly  inaccurate  rhyme  ;  but  see  done 
(1. 685),  and  the  rhymes  bowne:  Caton  (11. 459-460),  Emperoure:  Sauiore  (11. 345-346), 
and  Emparowre :  honeore  (11.  593-594).  Other  rhymes  which  are  at  least  graph- 
ically imperfect  are  greues  :  lifes  (11.  951-952),  high  :  negh  (11.  985-986),  well:  still 
(11.  1587-1588),  gar  diner  e :  fire  (11.  1935-1936),  and  brend ':  assent  (11.  2321-2322). 

230.  won.  This  spelling  (or  its  variant,  wane)  occurs  also  in  11.  729,  988,  1454, 
1546,  2784,  3620,  365*,  and  4091,  rhyming  in  three  cases  with  sone,  twice  with 


154  NOTES 

sun  (son),  and  once  with  on.  Though  anomalous,  the  form  is  occasionally  met 
with  in  other  MSS. ;  see,  for  example,  the  text  of  Troilus  in  MS.  Camb.  Gg.  IV. 
27,  11.  901,  1485,  4378,  4553,  etc- 

257.  lat  we  be.  A  very  common  formula  for  transition ;  see  Schmirgel,  Appen- 
dix to  Kolbing's  Sir  Beues,  E.  E.  T.  S.,  Ex.  Ser.,  LXV,  p.  1. 

264.  fandes.  Either  an  imperative  (in  which  case  the  change  of  construction 
is  very  awkward),  or  a  noun,  meaning  attempts. 

269.  an  emperise.    According  to  H,  the  daughter  of  the  king  of  Castille. 

283.  vnhid.  Just  the  opposite  of  what  is  meant.  Professor  William  Hand 
Browne,  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  has  kindly  suggested  to  me  that  vnkid 
(=  unrevealed)  should  perhaps  be  substituted  for  it. 

285.  a  seriant  nyce.  The  Welsh  version  has  instead  "  a  wicked  hag " ;  see 
G.  H.  Jones's  translation,  p.  647  :  "  And  one  day  she  came  to  the  house  of  a 
wicked  hag,  with  but  one  eye,  and  without  a  tooth  in  her  head,  and  she  said  to 
the  hag :  In  God's  name,  where  are  the  children  of  the  Emperor  ?  He  has  none, 
quoth  the  hag.  Woe  is  me,  said  she,  that  he  is  childless!  Thereupon  the  hag 
took  pity  on  the  other  hateful  woman,  saying  :  Thou  needst  not  do  that ;  there  is 
a  prophecy  that  he  will  get  children,  and  perchance  it  will  be  that  he  will  get  them 
by  thee,  since  he  will  not  get  them  by  another ;  and  be  not  sad,  he  has  one  son, 
who  is  being  nurtured  by  the  Wise  Men  of  Rome." 

299,  300.  a  counsailoure,  A  wiche.  The  counseling  with  a  witch,  though  it 
reminds  somewhat  of  the  amplification  of  the  Welsh  version  reproduced  in  the 
note  to  1.  285,  was  in  all  probability  an  invention  of  the  redactor  of  cr.  The  hag 
in  the  Welsh  version  plays  the  part  of  the  seriant  nyce  of  this  version ;  the  rdle 
of  the  witch  here  finds  nothing  corresponding  to  it  in  the  Welsh. 

317  f.  J>e  Emp[er]oure  and  his  ...  wife  .  .  .  J>ai.    See  note  to  1.  129  f. 

340.  Me  think.  Also  in  11.  449,  1582,  3197,  3215,  and  3610.  The  verb  is 
uninflected  in  every  instance,  as  was  normal  in  Northern  works  of  the  fourteenth 
century  (see  van  der  Gaaf,  The  Transition  from  the  Impersonal  to  the  Personal 
Construction  in  M.  E.,  p.  93  f.).  The  verb  think  =  think  (A.  S.  J>encan),  however, 
is  regularly  inflected;  see  11.  1205,  1350,  3472,  3872. 

348.  vnderon.  Variously  used  in  M.  E.  to  mean  :  "  Nine  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing; the  period  from  nine  o'clock  to  noon  ;  the  canonical  hour  of  terce ;  .  .  .  noon 
or  afternoon ;  also,  a  noon  meal."  —  Century  Dictionary.  Here  the  meaning 
is  perhaps  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  (see  note  on  prime,  1.  359,  and  Skeat's 
note  on  Chaucer's  use  of  the  term,  Complete  Works  of  Chaucer,  V,  p.  275) ;  perhaps 
midday  (see  F.  Tupper,  Jr.,  Anglo-Saxon  Dceg-Mcel,  Pub.  Mod.  Lang.  Assoc.  of 
America,  1895,  X»  P-  164  f.). 

359.  prime.  Probably  high  prime,  or  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  see  note  on 
1.  348,  and  Skeat's  note  referred  to  there;  also  Tupper,  I.e.,  p.  I58f. 

363.  The  line  clearly  begins  a  new  paragraph,  but  there  is  neither  rubric  nor 
flourish  in  the  MS.  See  note  to  1.  17. 

378.  hastily.  According  to  As,  11.  148-149,  they  are  commanded  to  bring  him 
home,  "  In  the  fest  of  the  Trinite,  Or  ellis  dreidles  thai  all  suld  de  " ;  similarly  H, 
p.  10  :  "  quod  sub  pena  mortis  in  festo  Penthecostes  filium  suum  ad  eum  ducerent." 


NOTES  155 

393.  a  gardine.    Called  in  1.  482,  "  Boys  Saynt  Martine."    See  note. 

394.  Floreentine.    The  curled  r  occurs  medially  only  here  and  in  couret,  1.  2694, 
and  smeretly,  1.  3538. 

400.  Catoun.    In  F  it  is  Ancilles  who  observes  the  stars ;  in  D*,  Bancillas. 

428.  Dissyllabic  thesis  in  each  of  the  first  two  feet. 

448.  werld.  To  be  read  as  a  dissyllable  (see  note  to  1.  222). 

476.  scho.    So  always  in  R,  but  C  has  sho  except  here  and  in  11.  619  and  2422. 

482.  Boys  Saynt  Martine.  L  (A*),  p.  9:  "bois  saint  Martin";  H,  p.  9: 
"  viridarium  sancti  Martini."  Other  M.  E.  MSS.  preserving  the  name  are  A,  E,  B, 
and  F.  An  industrious  hunt  through  guidebooks  and  atlases  reveals  nothing 
with  the  name  of  St.  Martin,  either  in  Rome  or  in  its  environs,  which  answers  to 
the  description  here  given.  The  church,  St.  Martin  in  the  Mount,  which  is  very 
ancient,  is  neither  outside  of  the  city  nor  near  the  Tiber.  Is  it  possible  that  the 
name  is,  after  all,  to  be  traced  to  the  Campus  Martius  ?  There  seems  to  be  such 
a  confusion  of  Mars  and  St.  Martin  in  Mount  Marty  n,  Octavian  (L  passim),  where 
Montmartre  (Paris)  is  meant.  —  For  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  St.  Martin  and  an 
account  of  the  traditions  concerning  him,  see  Chambers,  Book  of  Days,  under 
Martinmas. 

487.  For  other  examples  of  sudden  transition  from  indirect  to  direct  discourse, 
see  11.  565,  1127,  1241,  2371,  3183,  4066,  4145,  and  4156. 

491.  When  pe  Emperiz  herd  tij?and.  C  is  less  faithful  to  the  original  here  than 
are  some  of  the  rest  of  the  M.  E.  MSS.  In  A  (1.  423  f.),  E  (1.  385  f.),  and  B 
(1.  403  f.),  as  in  L  (A*)  (p.  9),  it  is  the  Emperor  who  first  receives  tidings  of  the 
approach  of  the  Prince ;  he  goes  out  to  meet  him,  gives  him  a  cordial  welcome, 
and  conducts  him  to  his  palace.  The  Empress  then  first  appears. 

Emperiz.  The  only  instance  of  this  spelling.  The  letter  z,  which,  as  pointed 
out  in  the  note  to  1.  2,  is  identical  in  C  with  palatal  5,  is  used  elsewhere  only  in 
Sarezins,  or  Sarzins  (11.  3073,  3122,  3136,  3144),  perzayued  (1.  3452),  and  benzown 
(1.38H). 

498  f.  The  story  of  the  stepmother's  advances,  the  young  prince's  repulsion 
of  her  advances,  and  her  outcry  in  consequence,  had  its  ultimate  origin  perhaps, 
in  the  scriptural  story  of  Joseph  and  Potiphar's  wife  (Genesis,  xxxix.  7-20).  But 
the  motif  was  not  uncommon  in  mediaeval  fiction ;  see  W.  H.  Schofield  in  "  The 
Lay  of  Guingamor,"  Studies  and  Notes,  1897,  IV,  p.  237,  and  in  "  The  Lays  of  Grae- 
lent  and  Lanval,"  Pub.  Mod.  Lang.  Assoc.  of  America,  1900,  XV,  p.  147  f. ;  see  also 
Kittredge,  "Arthur  and  Gorlagon,"  Studies  and  Notes,  1903,  VIII,  p.  255,  note  3. 

512.  F  and  D*  add  that  she  assured  him  that  she  would  slay  the  Emperor  and 
thus  get  him  out  of  their  way. 

524.  According  tb  H  (p.  13)  when  the  Empress  has  failed  in  her  efforts  to 
induce  the  Prince  to  speak,  she  brings  him  writing  materials  and  has  him  answer 
her  in  writing. 

530.  couercheues.  To  be  read  as  a  dissyllable. 

533.  al  to-drogh.  Alto-raced  occurs  in  1.  535,  and  al  to-rent  in  11.  541  and  551. 
See  Skeat's  note  on  al  to-rente,  Cant.  Tales,  B,  1.  3215.  The  scribe  of  C  wrote  alto 
as  one  word  in  each  instance. 


156  NOTES 

542.  Hir  hare,  hir  face  was.  Was  is  perhaps  a  plural;  perhaps  a  singular 
traceable  to  the  asyndeton.  The  regular  form  for  the  pret.  ind.  plu.  is  war  (see 
N-  34»  37>  J6ij  187,  etc.),  but  was  is  used  with  a  plural  subject  in  11.  623,  1319, 
1692,  and  4136,  and  perhaps  also  in  11.  3567  and  3692.  Es  also  is  used  as  a  plural 
in  1.  2144.  See  Kellner,  p.  48  f. 

554)  556-  Ger,  gers.  Both  C  and  R  pretty  consistently  differentiate  between  the 
singular  and  the  plural  of  the  imperative,  distinguishing  the  latter  by  an  inflectional 
s  (see,  for  the  singular,  11.  59,  71,  135,  545,  565,  etc.;  for  the  plural,  11.  2,  41,  316, 
577,  etc.).  The  apparent  inconsistency  here  may  perhaps  be  explained  as  only 
apparent,  Ger  being  accounted  for  by  its  proximity  to  J>i  (1.  553),  and^rj  by  its 
proximity  to  g<?  (1.  557) ;  for,  as  pointed  out  in  the  note  to  1.  \2%,J>ou  and  &  are 
used  indiscriminately.  It  may  be,  however,  that  in  gers  we  have  an  example  of 
an  inflected  imperative  singular,  which  Rodeffer,  Inflection  of  Pres.  Plu.  Ind., 
pp.  45  and  47,  asserts  is  found  in  some  Northern  texts.  Other  instances  of  the 
inflected  form  where  only  one  person  is  addressed  are :  Trowes,  1.  938 ;  Gose, 
1.  2706;  Biddes,  1.  2734  ;  Smites,  1.  3013 ;  takes,  1.  3081  ;  and  thinkes,  1.  3472. 

575-578.  Peculiar  to  this  redaction. 

579.  Ipe  knightes.  In  F  the  Prince's  life  is  saved  the  first  day,  not  by  the 
knights  but  by  a  steward ;  see  11.  380-393 : 

Then  come  forthe  the  steward, 

And  seyde  :  "  Syr,  thys  was  not  forward 

When  that  y  helde  the  thy  londe, 

When  two  kynges  bade  t>e  batell  wz't/z  wrong. 

And  then  J>ou  swere  be  heuen  Kyng 

Thou  schuldest  neu^r  warne  me  myn  askyng. 

Geue  me  thy  sones  lyfe  to-day, 

Gentyll  Emp^rour,  y  the  pray  ; 

And  let  hym  to-morowe  be  at  \>y  wylle, 

Whethur  }>ou  wylt  hym  saue  or  spylle." 

"  I  graunt  the,"  seyde  the  Emp^rour, 

"  To  geue  hym  lyfe,  be  Seynt  Sauyowr! 

All  for  the  respyte  of  a  nyght 

For  the  mede  that  y  the  hyght." 

Heading  p.  2O.  Proces.  The  name  given  to  the  poem  as  a  whole  (see  the 
general  heading,  p.  i).  It  is  used  here  and  in  the  headings  to  the  next  four  pro- 
logues with  its  usual  value,  I  take  it,  of  story,  though  the  word  prolong  (see  note 
to  heading  p.  49)  is  used  in  the  corresponding  place  in  the  headings  to  the  last 
ten  prologues. 

601.  This  line  as  it  appears  in  both  MSS.  is  too  short  (see  note  to  1.  84). 
A,  1.  533,  reads,  "  He  that  schal  in  thin  eld  age,"  thus  fortifying  the  line  by  the 
use  of  a  word  which,  in  C,  is  used  in  the  rhyme  of  the  line  preceding. 

612.  pine-appel  tre,  pine  tree.  A,  E,  B,  and  F  TZ-&.&  pinnate  tre  (  =  "pine-nut 
tree  "  =  pine) ;  As,  L  (A*),  D*,  and  H  have  simply  pine.  Weber  defines  pinnote  tre 
as  "  a  red-stocked  or  round-leaved  vine  "  ;  see  his  Glossary. 

620.  a  man.    According  to  As,  1.  289,  named  Cornele. 


f 


NOTES 


15; 


623.  "barein  was  mani  trese.  See  note  to  1.  542  for  several  other  instances 
of  was  with  a  plural  subject.  The  form  here  and  in  1.  1319  is  perhaps  due  to  the 
inversion  of  subject  and  predicate. 

628.  herber.  Used  here  probably  with  the  first  of  the  five  different  mean- 
ings entered  in  the  N.E.D.  under  Arbour:  "a  plot  of  ground  covered  with 
grass  "  ;  though  it  is  quite  possible  that  it  means  a  bower  or  shady  retreat  (see 
N.  E.  D.,  Arbour,  5). 

631.  So  it  bifel  opon  a  day.  Used  again  in  1.  2181,  and  in  Sir  Beues  (A), 
1.  4008  ;  Amis  and  Amiloun,  1.  925  ;  Perceval,  1.  2141  ;  and  Erl  of  Tolous,  11.  181,  493, 
997.  See  also  Lib.  Desc.,  1.  31  :  "As  hit  befell  upon  a  day";  and  Sir  Thopas, 
Cant.  Tales,  B,  1.  1938:  "And  so  bifel  upon  a  day,"  where  Chaucer  is  making 
fun  of  the  formula. 

665.  J>e  ymp  .  .  .  wex  ful  fast.  With  As,  1.  335,  on  the  contrary,  "  The  soung 
tre  na  better  sped." 

667,  668.  was,  standes.    Other  examples  of  the  commingling  of  the  preterite 
and  the  historical  present  are  furnished  by  11.  821  f.,  828  f.,  998-999,  1009-1010, 
1123  f.,  1134-1135,  1365  f.,  1456  f.,  1470  f.,  1598  f.,  1838-1839,  1942  f.,  etc. 

668.  maister.    The  same  word  is  used  in  O.  F.  ;   see  L  (A*),  p.  13:   ".i.  petit 
piniaus  d'unes  des  maistres  racines." 

677.  aid  [tre].  The  reading  of  C  here  is  perhaps  admissible,  but  the  reading 
of  R,  though  less  rhythmical,  suits  the  context  better;  and  R  has  the  support 
of  A,  1.  617  :  "And,  for  the  elde  tre  is  so  i-  hewed." 

687.  so  mot  I  the.     Repeated  in  11.  1153,  1447,  1571*  1612,  2117,  3014,  3022, 
3059,  3309.    On  its  frequency  in  M.  E.  verse,  see  Zupitza's  note  to  Guy  of  War- 
wick (B),  1.  615.    Zupitza  records  seventeen  instances  of  it  in  Guy  of  Warwick, 

688.  J>e  aid  tre  bitakens  J»e.  As,  1.  355  f.,  adds  that  the  gardener  betokens  the 
sages  ;  F,  1.  434,  that  the  boughs  betoken  the  sages. 

689.  vnto.    There  appears  to  be  confusion  of  idiom  here,  the  idea  involved  in 
bitakens  (1.  688)  suggesting  that  of  is  like  in  this  line,  with  the  consequent  adjust- 
ment of  preposition. 

699.  Bot  sertes  it  sal  noght  swa.    R  inserts  be  after  noght,  which  improves 
the  line  metrically.    There  are,  however,  other  instances  of  Jhe  omission  of  the 
infinitive  after  the  auxiliary:  in  11.  1680,  1749,  1903,  3275,  and  3381.    In  three 
of  these  instances  (11.  1680,  1749,  3275),  the  construction  is  the  not  uncommon  one 
with  intransitive  verbs  of  motion  (see  Matzner,  Grammar,  II,  p.  45  f.,  and  Kellner, 
p.  45),  but  in  the  other  two  instances,  as  here,  the  omitted  infinitive  is  clearly 
not  a  verb  of  motion.    Matzner  cites  no  examples  of  the  latter   construction, 
but  the  Canterbury  Tales  furnishes  at  least  one  example  ;  see  the  Man  of  Law's 
Tale,  B,  1.  738  :  "  If  ye  wol  aught  "  =  "  If  you  wish  to  say  anything." 

700.  ride  and  ga.  Likewise  in  11.  2766  and  3862;  see  also  ride  ne  go,  1.  1152, 
and  ryde  or  gane,  1.  3937.    On  this  locution  see  Kolbing,  note  to  Ipomedon  (A), 
1.  1164,  and  Kittredge,  Stiidies  and  Notes,  I,  p.  17. 

723.  hailsed.  A  and  B  appear  to  reflect  the  O.  F.  here  more  faithfully  than  do 
the  rest  of  the  MSS.  L  (A*),  p.  15,  has:  "  Diex  vos  doint  bon  jor";  A,  1.  666: 
"  Deu  vous  doint  bonjour";  B,  1.  652  :  "  Deu  vous  garde  bonjour." 


158  NOTES 

738.  J>e  deuil  of  hel  I  sow  biteche !  One  of  the  "  literary  commonplaces  "  fre- 
quently encountered  in  M.  E.  verse ;  see  Kittredge,  Studies  and  Notes,  I,  p.  49. 

744.  to  safe  soure  grace.  The  N.E.D.  cites  no  example  of  this  form  of  the 
common  expletive,  save  your  grace.  It  occurs  again,  however,  in  this  text  in  1.  2398. 

749.  hand-haueing.  The  present  participle  in  -ing  appears  only  here  and  in 
1.  1563  (hand-haueing:  nothing).  The  word  hand-haueing  had  probably  lost  its 
participial  value. 

752,  753.  Peculiar  to  this  redaction. 

753.  For  J?aire  bolt  es  ful  sone  shot.  For  comments  on  this  proverb,  see  Kit- 
tredge, Studies  and  Notes,  I,  p.  27 ;  and  Skeat,  note  on  Parlement  of  Foules,  1.  574 
(Complete  Works  of  Chaucer,  I,  p.  523). 

]?aire.  Imperfectly  adjusted  to  its  antecedent.    Other  instances  of  faulty  refer- 
ence are  found  in  11.  1353,  1697,  and  2307. 
.  755.  Here  F  introduces  puteus,  cams  becoming  the  eighth  tale  in  that  MS. 

775  f.  For  certain  variations  among  the  different  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages, 
in  the  telling  of  canis,  and  for  sundry  derivatives  and  analogues  of  the  story,  see 
the  Introduction,  pp.  Ixxviii  f. 

776.  a  day  of  ]?e  Trinite.  So  A,  E,  B,  and  L  (A*) ;  D :  in  May ;  D*  :  "  une  feste 
solonnelle  a  Penthecostes." 

782.  grehownde.  According  to  H  the  knight  had  also  a  pet  falcon.  This  bird 
plays  a  prominent  part  in  the  story :  it  is  the  first  to  spy  the  serpent,  the  dog  hav- 
ing fallen  asleep ;  it  awakes  the  dog  and  puts  him  on  his  guard  by  flapping  its 
wings. 

788.  A  faire  childe.    D,  1.  730,  adds  that  the  child  was  twelve  months  old. 

789.  thre  norices.    D,  1.  754 :  two  nurses ;  As,  1.  447 :  one  nurse ;  all  other 
MSS.,  as  C.    There  is  no  mention  of  the  nurses  in  the  Welsh  version  and  the 
Dolopathos,  nor  in  the  Eastern  versions. 

804.  lay.    Hardly  with  the  value  of  lay,  reclined ;  but  rather,  remained,  had  a 
position.    So  also,  probably,  in  1.  3333.    See  N.  E.  D.,  Lie,  4. 

805.  vice.    O.  F.  vis,  viz,  a  winding  stair;   here  perhaps  the  landing  at  the 
head  of  such  a  stair. 

8xx.  fe  childe  .*.  .  it.    See  note  to  1.  129  f. 

837.  stulpes.  O.  N.  stolpi,  a  post.  Here  the  posts  (or  upright  extensions  of 
the  legs)  of  a  cradle.  A  rare  word,  the  lexicons  citing  only  two  examples  of  it : 
from  Palladius  on  Husbondrie,  I,  1.  1054,  and  Prompt.  Parv.,  p.  481. 

840.  Buth.  The  MS.  seems  to  read  bitth,  the  stroke  of  the  t  extending  farther 
to  the  left  than  usual.  R  has  Both.  The  spelling  buth  occurs  nowhere  else, 
either  in  C  or  R;  and  it  is  not  unlikely,  I  think,  that  it  is  due  here  to  scribal  error. 

857  f .  Here,  as  often  in  the  poem,  the  style  is  exceedingly  broken  and  choppy ; 
see,  in  particular,  11.  3679  f. 

863.  J?e  lady  oft  in  swown  gan  fall.  On  the  frequency  of  swooning  in  the 
mediaeval  romances,  see  Mead,  note  to  Squyr  of  Lowe  Degre,  1.  90. 

865.  Alias  .  .  .  J>at  I  was  born  !  For  other  examples  of  this  formula,  see 
Mead,  note  to  Squyr  of  Lowe  Degre,  \.  68,  and  Zupitza,  note  to  Athelston,  1.  387. 

871.  what  ]?am  was.    That  is,  "what  was  to  pay  with  them." 


NOTES  159 

886.  in  sender  he  him  slittes.  In  the  O.  F.  versions  he  cuts  off  the  dog's 
head;  so  also  in  As,  1.  473.  A  and  D,  however,  fall  in  with  C.  Other  M.  E.  MSS. 
are  either  silent  or  fragmentary  here. 

920  f.  There  is  much  variation  as  to  the  kind  of  penance  done.    A,  E,  and  B  are 
in  accord  with  C.   According  to  L  (A*),  p.  2 1 ,  and  D*,  p.  9,  the  knight  goes  into  exile  ; 
according  to  As,  1.  484,  and  H,  p.  18,  to  the  Holy  Land.    According  to  D,  1.  882  f., 
he  goes  into  his  orchard,  to  a  fish  pool,  leaps  in,  and  sinks  to  the  bottom. 
940.  Cf.  1.  2128  :  "  To  trow  hir  wordes  and  leue  \>e  wise." 
949.  Whannow.  Also  in  11.  1603  and  2141.    Not  recorded  in  the  dictionaries. 
I  take  it  to  be  an  agglutinated  form  of  what  now. 

963.  here  by  west.  Though  this  appears  in  all  the  M.  E.  MSS.  except  Ar,  D, 
and  F,  the  first  of  which  is  fragmentary  here,  while  the  other  two  are  independent, 
there  is  nothing  corresponding  to  it  in  any  of  the  O.  F.  MSS.  that  have  been  pub- 
lished. With  the  Welsh  version  the  scene  of  the  story  is  "  a  forest  in  France." 
The  phrase  here  is  probably  "  merely  formal "  ;  see  Hall's  note  to  King  Horn,  1.  5. 
963  f.  For  a  summary  of  the  variations  among  the  different  versions  of  The 
Seven  Sages  in  the  telling  of  aper,  and  for  a  list  of  the  analogues  of  the  story,  see 
the  Introduction,  pp.  Ixxxii  f. 

F  abridges  aper  and  otherwise  alters  it  extensively.  With  F  (11.  606-633)  t^ie 
story  runs  as  follows  : 

Hyt  was  a  swynherde  yn  J>ys  cuwtre, 

And  kepte  swyne  grete  plente. 

So  on  a  day  he  fayled  a  boor, 

And  be-gan  to  morne  and  syke  sore  ; 

He  durste  not  go  home  to  hys  mete 

For  drede  hys  maystyrs  wolde  hyw  bete. 

He  clambe  hye  vpon  a  tree, 

And  akcorns  for  hunger  ete  he. 

Then  was  \>er  a  boor  yn  \>a\.  foreste 

That  was  a  wondz^r  vylous  beste ; 

And  comyth  rennyng  to  the  tree, 

And  fonde  akcorns  failed  grete  plente, 

And  ete  of  |?e  akcorns  swythe  faste, 

And  leyde  hym  down  at  the  laste. 

The  swynherde,  \>at  was  yn  the  tree, 

Wyste  not  whodur  he  myght  flee, 

That  nye  hym-selfe  he  waxe  all  madd 

For  thoght  and  sykyng  that  he  had. 

Then  the  swynherde  hyw  be-thoght 

To  be-gyld  J?e  best,  yf  \>ai  he  moght ; 

And  clambe  down  fro  bogh  to  bogh 

Tyll  he  myght  reche  >e  boor  well  ynogh. 

He  clawed  J>e  boor  on  the  bakk, 

And  full  well  lykud  he  that ; 

He  thoght  >at  he  clawed  so  swete 

That  at  the  laste  he  felle  a-slepe. 

Then  J>e  swynherde  toke  owt  a  knyf  smert, 

And  smote  the  boor  to  the  herte. 


160  NOTES 

968.  In  H  the  king  of  the  country  offers  his  daughter  and  the  succession  to 
his  throne  to  any  one  who  will  kill  the  boar.  A  similar  offer  is  made  in  vatici- 
nium  (all  versions)  to  any  one  that  shall  interpret  the  actions  of  the  three  ravens. 

972.  The  infinitive,  a  verb  of  motion,  is  omitted  here,  as  in  11.  1680,  1749, 
3275 ;  see  note  to  1.  699. 

975.  Bifel  pus.  See  note  to  1.  68. 

981.  hode.  L  (A*)  reads:  "ses  girons  "  ;  and,  in  like  manner,  A,  E,  and  B: 
barm,  or  lap.  The  hood  was  sometimes  thrown  back  so  as  to  hang  down  from 
the  shoulders  (see  N.  E.  D.  under  Hood). 

985,  986.  high  :  negh.  Apparently  an  imperfect  rhyme,  but  probably  not  so 
in  reality.  The  spelling  heghest  occurs  in  1.  3984,  and  the  noun  derived  from 
high  is  spelled  heght  in  1.  2527.  See  note  to  11.  229-230. 

987.  ferly  fone.    L  (A*),  p.  23  :  "  II  ne  pot  autretant  trover  des  alies  comme 
il  soloit  faire  devant  " ;  A,  E,  B,  D*  :  he  can  find  none  ;  F,  1.  618 :  "  fonde  akcorns 
failed  gr<?te  plente." 

988.  Forby  he  was  won  to  done.    That  is,  in  comparison  with  what  he  was 
accustomed  to  find.    The  relative  is  omitted  also  in  11.  2533,  3433,  3630,  and  3821. 
See  Kellner,  pp.  61  f.,  315. 

992.  buskes.  Apparently  with  the  meaning  of  "clumps,"  "grassy  or  bushy 
clods,"  "  tufts  of  sod." 

1008.  An  unusually  clumsy  line.  R  omits  hand,  and  so  reads  perfectly.  It  is 
probable  that  the  scribe  of  C  erroneously  inserted  hand  under  the  influence  of 
hand  in  the  preceding  line. 

1028.  with  sorow !  Professor  Kittredge  reminds  me  that  the  phrase  is  a 
common  M.  E.  curse. 

1041.  With  the  line  corresponding  to  this  the  text  of  the  Arundel  MS.  (Ar) 
begins. 

1059.  And.  One  of  the  four  instances  in  C  in  which  the  word  is  spelled  out. 
See  note  to  1.  2. 

1081,  1082.  "You  should  not  slay  your  son  on  that  account  unless  you  knew 
he  deserved  to  be  slain."  Wort  hi  is  similarly  used  in  1.  2536. 

1086.  Ypocrase.    The  celebrated  physician,  Hippocrates,  480  B.C.  to  about 
357  B.C.    It  is  barely  possible  that  medicus  grew  out  of  the  story  (perhaps  apoc- 
ryphal) of  Hippocrates's  diagnosis  of  the  case  of  Perdiccas  II,  king  of  Mace- 
donia, who  had  invited  him  to  his  court.    Hippocrates    discovered  by  certain 
external  symptoms,  so  the  tradition  goes,  that  the  king's  illness  had  been  caused 
by  his  having  fallen  in  love  with  his  father's  concubine.    See  W.  A.  Greenhill  in 
Smith's  Dictionary.  —  Hippocrates  also  figures  in  Lonelich's  Holy  Grail,  chapters 
35-37,  E.  E.  T.  S.,  Ex.  Ser.,  XXVIII,  pp.  17-40,  and  is  often  mentioned  in  M.  E. 
literature. 

1087.  neuow.    According  to  H,  named  Galen. 

noi  f.  For  a  digest  of  the  peculiar  features  of  the  different  versions  of  medi- 
cus and  for  the  discussion  of  some  analogues  of  the  story,  see  the  Introduction, 
pp.  Ixxxiv  f. 

1 103-1 104.  slike  :  like.    The  same  rhyme  occurs  in  11. 3443-3444  and  3587-3588. 


NOTES  l6l 

1107.  D,  in  accord  with  a  convention  of  ancient  and  mediaeval  story  (see,  for 
instance,  Beowulf,  1.  2184  f-»  and  tne  Sir  Perceval  legend),  has  it  that  for  a  long 
time  in  his  youth  the  nephew  had  appeared  to  be  very  dull. 

1 122.  florines.  For  the  history  of  the  florin,  see  N.E.D.  s.v.\  Skeat's  notes 
to  Piers  PI.,  C,  III,  1.  157,  and  IV,  1.  47 ;  Kaluza's  note  to  Lib.  Desc.,  1.  1046;  and 
Mead's  note  to  Squyr  of  Lowe  Degre,  1.  243.  R  reads  florance,  thus  furnishing  an 
example  of  the  use  of  the  word  fifty  years  earlier  than  the  first  example  cited  by 
the  N.  E.  D. 

1131.  Wen.  See  note  to  1.  28. 

1135.  syn,  sinew,  A  and  F  reading  senewe  and  senows  respectively.  The  dic- 
tionaries record  no  other  example  of  a  monosyllabic  form  of  the  word  in  English  ; 
but  the  form  sin  appears  in  O.  N.  and  O.  Fries. 

1146.  On  al  manere  wit  bus  me.  "In  every  way  it  behooves  me  to  know." 
See,  for  a  similar  use  of  the  infinitive  with  bus,  1.  3476. 

1153.  See  notes  to  11.  3022  and  10. 

1168.  in  Auerell.    The  phrase  is  found  only  in  Y ;  in  which  it  is  constant. 

1169.  f>e  Eril  of  Nauern.  So,  with  slight  variations,  the  rest  of  the  M.  E.  MSS. 
L  (A*),  however,  has  :  "  li  quens  de  namur  "  ;  D*  :  "  roy  de  Frise  " ;  and  H :  "  dux 
de    Burgundia."    Navern  is  frequently  met  with  in  the  M.  E.  romances.    It  is 
a  variant  of  Navarre  ;  see  Huon  of  Bur  deux,  E.  E.  T.  S.,  Ex.  Ser.,  XLIII,  p.  632 
and  passim,  where  it  is  closely  associated  with  Aragon ;  see  also  Minot's  Poems, 
iv,  1.  70  (ed.  Hall,  Oxford,  1887,  p.  13),  and  Hall's  note  on  the  line  (I.e.,  p.  57). 

1178.  I  prai  J>e  J>at  no  man  weten.  The  infinitive,  weten,  has  no  governing 
verb.  Instead  of  J>at  four  MSS.  have  let,  which  was  doubtless  the  original  read- 
ing; see  A,  1.  1090:  "let  no  man  wite  " ;  Ar,  1.  150:  "late  no  man  J>at  i-wete  "; 
E,  1.  1094:  "lete  no  man  hyt  wete";  F,  1.  1555 :  "let  no  man  hyt  wete." 

1 184.  beres  fless.  Peculiar  to  C  and  R.  L  (A*),  p.  27  :  "  char  de  buef  " ;  and  so, 
in  effect,  A,  Ar,  E,  B,  and  F. 

bro.  So  A  and  B.  E  substitutes  blood,  and  H  aquam.  The  O.  F.  versions  are 
silent. 

1189.  with  wyne.  So  also  F,  1.  1575.  Other  passages  in  which  F  and  C  unite 
in  differing  from  other  MSS.  are  11.  3077-3078,  3099-3100,  3159,  3213-3214,  3339- 
3340,  3488,  4060,  4063-4064,  4073-4074,  4209.  In  four  of  these  instances  —  3099- 
3100,  3488,  4060,  and  4063-4064 —  F  and  C  are  faithful  to  the  O.  F. 

1192-1193.  gaf  him  .  .  .  Vnto  ]?e  leche.  An  awkward  reduplication  of  the 
object,  avoided  by  all  the  other  MSS.  save  A  (11.  1098-1099)  andF  (11.  1567-1568). 
See  Matzner,  Grammar,  II,  p.  19. 

1193.  siluer  and  golde.    Ar,  1.  159  :  "A  wer-hofs  i-charged  w/t/fc  silu<?r#«</gold." 

1207.  Son.  So  also  A;  E,  B,  Ar,  and  F,  however,  read:  "on  the  third  day." 
The  O.  F.  versions  are  silent. 

1207  f.  In  D*  this  episode  is  placed  just  after  the  tun  episode. 

1224  A,  Ar,  E,  F,  D,  L  (A*),  D*,  and  H  add  here  that  he  also  burned  his  books, 
which  is  perhaps  a  reminiscence  of  the  fable  according  to  which  Hippocrates 
burned  the  books  at  Cos  which  were  under  his  charge  as  librarian,  his  purpose 
being  to  conceal  the  use  he  had  made  of  them  in  his  own  books. 


162  NOTES 

1243.  fele.  Ar,  E,  B,  F,  L  (A*),  and  H:  "  in  a  hundred  places." 

1265.  slas.  R  has  sla.  Other  instances  in  which  R  uses  the  subjunctive  where 
C  has  the  indicative  occur  in  11.  1654,  1862,  1869,  2513,  2545,  2967,  3034,  3162. 
In  1.  1549  R  uses  the  indicative  where  C  has  the  subjunctive. 

1267.  do  him  alegance.  "That  is,  give  him  relief,"  {' suspend  the  judgment 
you  have  passed  against  him."  See  N.  E.  D.  under  Allege,  v1. 

1274.  Wepid.  The  subject  is  omitted,  as  in  1.  3630.  Such  an  omission  seems 
violent  to  the  Mod.  Eng.  ear,  but  examples  are  common  in  the  best  M.  E. 
verse;  see  the  "Prologue"  to  the  Cant.  Tales,  11.  33,  600,  and  8n.  See  also 
Macaulay's  note  to  Conf.  Amant.,  Bk.  I,  1.  1895,  an^  Zupitza's  note  to  Guy  of 
Warwick  (B),  1.  10. 

1279,  1280.  These  lines  are  omitted  by  R.  That  the  omission  is  arbitrary  is 
shown  by  their  appearing  in  A  (11.  1189-1190),  Ar  (11.  253-254),  E  (11.  1195-1196), 
and  B  (11.  1 177-1 178),  where  the  same  rhymes  occur  as  in  C.  For  another  arbitrary 
omission  by  R,  see  11.  2843-2844.  For  a  couplet  arbitrarily  added  by  R,  see  note 
to  1.  2364. 

1302.  what  was  he  ]?at?  I  am  not  sure  what  this  means.  The  context 
seems  to  call  for  the  interpretation,  "  who  (or,  what  sort  of  fellow)  was  he  that 
did  so  ? "  a  question  with  the  value  of  a  request  for  the  telling  of  the  story  sug- 
gested in  the  lines  preceding,  feat  appears  to  be  merely  a  bit  of  pleonasm 
employed,  despite  the  violence  it  involves,  to  meet  the  exigency  of  the  rhyme. 

1311  f .  For  a  summary  of  the  peculiar  features  of  the  different  versions  of  gaza, 
and  for  a  list  of  the  originals  and  analogues  of  the  story,  with  a  discussion  thereof, 
see  the  Introduction,  pp.  Ixxxv  f. 

1316.  Octouian.    The  romance  of  Octavian  is  well  known;  the  M.  E.  versions 
have  been  published  by  Weber,  Metrical  Romances,  III,  p.  157  f . ;  Halliwell, 
Percy  Soc.,  No.  xiv ;  and  Sarrazin,  Altengl.  Bibk.,  III. 

1317.  toure.    According  to  A,  Ar,  E,  B,  L  (A*),  D*,   named  Cressent.    This 
tower  also  appears  in  some  versions  of  Roma;  see  note  to  1.  3121.  The  name 
Cressent  is  later  given  in  this  text  (11.  2147,  2152,  etc.)  to  Crassus;  see  note  to 
1.  2147. 

1318.  his  tresoure.    Mention  is  made  of  the  wealth  of  Octavian  in  William  of 
Malmesbury's  Chronicle  (tr.  Giles,  p.  178).    It  is  also  referred  to  in  Conf.  Amant., 
Bk.  V,  1.  4731 ;    Macaulay   (Conf.  Amant.,  II,  p.  502),   in  a  note  on  this  line, 
observes  that  "  The  treasures  of  Octovien  (or  Octavian)  were  proverbial,"   and 
cites,  in  evidence  of  this,  Rom.  de  Troie,  11.  1684  f-  and  28594  f. 

1319.  was.    For  other  examples  of  was  with  a  plural  subject,  see  note  to  1.  542. 
klerkes  twa.    A,  Ar,  E,  and  B  add,  with  the  support  of  L  (A*)  and  D*,  that 

there  had  formerly  been  seven  clerks,  five  of  whom  had  gone  to  some  other 
country. 

1320.  A  liberal  man.  L  (A*),  D*,  and  H  add  that  he  had  one  son  and  two 
daughters. 

1331.  Sir,  at  gowre  will.  With  L  (A*),  D*,  A,  Ar,  E,  B  the  son  remonstrates 
with  the  father  at  first.  With  H,  p.  25,  he  expressly  approves  of  his  father's  plan : 
"  Ait  filius  :  '  Bonum  est  consilium.  Melius  est  de  thesauro  eius  accipere,  eo  quod 


NOTES  163 

in  omnibus  habundat,  quam  hereditatem  nostram  vendere,  et  ego  cum  sororibus 
meis  semper  in  miseria  permanere.'  " 

1336-  f>e  fader  went  in.  A,  Ar,  E,  and  B,  in  agreement  with  L  (A*),  p.  30, 
report  that  both  father  and  son  went  in. 

1335-1342.   Peculiar  to  this  redaction. 

1349.  he  wald  tel  to  na  man.  According  to  H,  p.  25,  he  reports  to  Octavian, 
who  rebukes  him. 

1353.  Jjam.  Other  examples  of  faulty  reference  are  pointed  out  in  the  note  on 
/>aire,  1.  753. 

1375.  smite  my  heuid.  In  D*,  p.  35,  the  father  foretells  the  incidents  of  the 
following  day,  and  instructs  the  son  as  to  the  course  he  is  to  pursue.  In  H,  p.  26, 
the  son  does  not  demur  at  all  to  his  father's  counsel,  but  beheads  him  at  once. 
In  some  of  the  variants  of  gam  the  idea  of  beheading  the  father  originates  with 
the  son,  who  carries  this  idea  into  execution  in  the  face  of  much  remonstrance 
from  the  father. 

1382.  say.  This  word  in  the  Cotton  MS.  looks  more  like  aay,  but  must  be 
say,  as  with  R. 

1391.  it  wald  be  wer.  That  is,  "it  would  be  the  worse  for  him  [the  son]," 
"  would  go  hard  with  him." 

1394.  Into  J>e  pit  )?e  heuid  he   slang.  With  this  D  ends  its  version  of  gaza. 

1404.  wont.  R  inserts  was  before  wont,  but  unnecessarily.  See,  for  example, 
Milton's  On  the  Morning  of  Chrisfs  Nativity,  1.  10,  and  Paradise  Lost,  I,  1.  764; 
V,  1.  123;  and  VI,  1.  93. 

1427.  in  ]?e  cheke.  A,  Ar,  E,  B,  L  (A*),  D*,  H :  in  the  thigh  ;  F,  in  the 
hand. 

1445,  1446.  J?e  deuil  .  .  .  Bot  .  .  .  gang !  I  take  this  to  mean :  "  The  devil 
hang  him  if  he  does  n't  throw  your  head  into  a  privy  !  " 

Heading  p.  49.  Prolong.  Evidently  a  variant  (traceable  to  scribal  error)  of 
prologue  (see  the  forms  prolouge,  Alexander,  ed.  Skeat,  E.  E.  T.  S.,  Ex.  Ser., 
XLVII,  11.  2730,  5066,  and  Proloug,  Bokenam's  Lives  of  Saints,  Altengl.  Bibk., 
I,  p.  237).  Proloug  occurs  also  in  the  headings  to  the  prologues  of  the  rest  of 
the  stories.  In  the  headings  to  the  first  five  prologues  the  word  Proces  is  used 
instead,  though  hardly  with  the  same  meaning  as  Prolong ;  see  note  to  heading 
p.  20. 

1481.  "A,  lord,"  he  said.  R  omits  he  said,  and  thus  spoils  the  meter;  but  it 
has  the  support  of  Ar,  1.  467. 

1496.  for  hir  owin  ded  sake,  "for  her  own  deed's  sake";  see  note  to  1.  193 
for  other  examples  of  the  uninflected  genitive. 

1507  f.  For  a  summary  of  the  peculiar  features  of  the  different  versions  of 
puteus,  and  for  a  list  of  the  variants  and  analogues  of  the  story,  see  the  Intro- 
duction, pp.  xc  f. 

1508.  A  riche  man.  According  to  F,  1.  494  f.,  he  had  already  wedded  two 
wives;  and  D,  L  (A*),  and  H  stress  the  fact  that,  though  he  was  an  old  man,  he 
had  taken  a  young  wife. 

1520-1526.  Peculiar  to  this  redaction. 


1 64  NOTES 

1527.  ane  vsage.  D  places  this  detail  just  before  the  arrival  of  the  watchman 
(see  1.  1621). 

1534.  him.    So  also  in  R,  although  both  MSS.  have  J>am  in  11.  1531  and  1535. 

1535.  men  sal  J»am  driue.    According  to  F,  1.  502,  they  are  stoned  to  death. 
1568.  In  L  (A*),  p.  36,  she  argues  in  her  defense  that  she  had  gone  out  of 

doors  because  she  had  been  ill;  in  D*,  p.  19,  because  of  an  attack  of  toothache ; 
in  H,  p.  21,  because  her  mother,  being  ill,  had  sent  for  her. 

1580.  well.  In  the  Welsh  version  (tr.  Jones,  p.  652),  a  fish  pond. 

1587,  1588.  well:  still.  See,  for  other  imperfect  rhymes,  the  note  to  11.  229-230. 
A,  1.  1472,  avoids  the  difficulty  by  reading  snelle  in  place  of  still. 

1621.  wakemen.  C  has  wakeman,  but  J>ai  in  11.  1625  and  1627  confirms  the 
reading  of  R,  which  I  have  adopted. 

1680.  my  reson  may  noght  forth.  That  is,  "my  judgment  does  not  prevail." 
The  infinitive,  a  verb  of  motion,  is  omitted,  as  in  11.  1680,  1749,  and  3275,  and  in 
the  corresponding  line  in  A  (1.  1550) :  "  Mi  tale  ne  mot  nowt  forth." 

1689  f.  For  a  summary  of  the  peculiar  features  of  the  different  versions  of 
senescalcus,  and  for  a  discussion  of  the  analogues  of  the  story,  see  the  Introduc- 
tion, pp.  xci  f . 

In  H  senescalcus  is  fused  with  Roma.  In  F  senescalcus  appears  to  have  been 
supplanted  by  a  story  otherwise  entirely  foreign  to  The  Seven  Sages.  Owing  to 
the  loss  of  a  leaf  of  the  MS.  the  conclusion  of  the  story  is  lacking.  The  fragment 
which  remains  is  as  follows : 

Hyt  was  a  knygt  of  J>ys  centre, 
And  a  noble-man  was  he  ; 
And  he  had  a  sone  feyre, 
A  godely  chylde,  schulde  be  hys  heyre. 
The  chylde  louyd  wele  spendyng, 
And  ryet  yn  all  thynge  ; 
Tauerns  and  dyces  louyd  he, 
And  horys  louyd  he  grete  plente. 
Thus  he  spendyd  all  \>at  he  mygt  wynne, 
Tyll  )>at  hys  catell  waxe  all  )>ynne. 
He  hym  bethoght  yn  all  wyse 
How  he  mySt  hys  fadwr  sle  wz'U  some  queyntyse. 
So  hyt  befelle  vpon  a  day, 
He  feyned  hym  syke  and  yn  hys  bed  he  lay, 
And  seyde  \>er  was  a  boor  yn  J>#t  forest 
That  was  a  wondwr  vylous  beest : 
"  Fadur,  but  yf  y  haue  a  brede  of  hym, 
Y  dye  fro  tho  and  all  my  kynne." 
The  godemans  hert  was  full  sore 
That  hys  sone  schulde  dye  for  J?e  brede  of  a  boor. 
He  dygt  hyw  on  a  gode  palfray, 
And  to  the  wode  he  went  hys  way. 
The  chylde  spekyth  wz't/z  felows  twelfe, 
And  the  threttethe  was  hym-selfe, 
And  mette  hys  fadur  vndur  a  tree, 


NOTES  165 

And  assayle  hym  harde  can  he. 

He  hewe  hys  fadur  very  smale, 

All  yn  pecys,  as  seyj?  >ys  tale ; 

And  home  he  went  to  bedd  ageyn, 

And  couyrd  hym  warme,  hz't  ys  not  to  leyn. 

The  tydynges  come  to  that  cyte ; 

For  hym  was  dole  and  grete  pyte, 

For  that  noble  knyght  was  sloon.     [11. 1053-1085.] 

The  Welsh  version  also  substitutes  another  story  for  senescalcus.  Jn  Jones's 
translation  (p.  652)  this  story  runs  thus  :  "  A  man  of  Rome  had  a  tree  with 
sweet  fruit,  growing  in  his  garden,  with  a  fine  straight  branch  rising  from  the 
stock  of  the  tree,  and  reaching  to  the  sky.  And  if  the  man  held  the  tree  and  its 
fruit  dear,  still  dearer  was  the  branch  because  of  its  loveliness.  Between  me  and 
God,  said  the  gardener,  if  thou  wouldst  follow  my  advice,  thou  wouldst  order 
the  branch  to  be  cut  down  from  off  the  tree.  Why  ?  said  he.  Because  it  is  not 
sure  whether  thou  wilt  obtain  the  fruit  of  the  tree,  so  long  as  yonder  branch  is 
a  step  for  one  to  ascend,  and  to  support  evil  persons  and  thieves ;  and  there 
is  no  way  to  climb  the  tree  or  get  the  fruit  save  by  yonder  branch.  By  my 
faith,  said  he,  for  all  that,  none  of  the  branch  shall  be  cut  off,  any  more  than 
before.  Be  it  so,  said  the  gardener.  And  that  night  thieves  came  to  the  tree 
and  plundered  the  tree  of  its  fruit,  and  left  it  quite  bare,  with  broken  branches, 
by  the  next  morning."  —  The  first  half  of  the  story,  it  will  be  observed,  tracks 
arbor  tolerably  closely.  The  conclusion  is  probably  an  invention  of  the  Welsh 
redactor. 

1690.  Was  a  king.    See  note  to  1.  211. 

1691.  Poyle  and  Calaber  land.   According  to  L  (A*)  and  D  he  ruled  merely 
over  Apulia';  according  to  D*  he  was  king  of  Egypt ;  according  to  the  Welsh 
version,  king  of  Germany.  —  Apulia  and  Calabria,  being  nearly  associated  geo- 
graphically, were  often  referred  to  together  in  mediaeval  story. 

1691,  1692.  Bath  Poyle  and  Calaber  land  Was.  For  other  instances  in  which 
was  is  used  with  a  plural  subject,  see  note  on  1.  542. 

1693.  in  luf  had  he  no  delite.  So  L  (A*),  p.  39  :  "  II  desdaingnoit  fame  seur 
toutes  riens "  ;  and  similarly  A  and  B:  "he  loved  women  very  little."  But  Ar, 
1.  652,  and  E,  1.  1594,  report  illogically  that  he  had  great  delight  in  women. 

1705.  medcines.    A,  Ar,  E,  L  (A*):  "barley  bread  and  water." 

1722.  Ten  pownd.  A,  Ar,  B,  L  (A*):  twenty  marks;  E:  twenty  pounds; 
D* :  a  hundred  marks  ;  the  Welsh  version  :  nine  marks  ;  H  :  a  thousand  florins. 

1729.  ]?e  steward  .  .  .  couaitus.  On  the  covetous  steward  in  mediaeval  story 
see  Mead,  Squyr  of  Lowe  Degre,  p.  xxx. 

1749.  I  mot  nedes  J»artill.    See  note  to  1.  699. 

J749j  I75°-  The  logic  of  this  speech  is  quite  worthy  of  the  character  into 
whose  mouth  it  is  put. 

1765.  Except  for  one  word,  identical  with  1.  2471.    See  note  to  1.  10. 

1766.  chamber.    The  reading  of  R ;  C  has  chanber,  which  I  take  to  be  a  scribal 
error,  but  the  same  spelling  is  found  in  William  of  Pakrne,  11.  685  and  771. 


166  NOTES 

1781.  it  es  forth  dais.  So  also  Ar,  1.  719,  E,  1.  1659,  and  B,  1.  1677.  A,  1.  1629, 
has  instead,  "  hit  is  dai,"  the  rhyme  word  corresponding  to  dai  being  awai. 

1801.  According  to  B,  11.  1691-1696,  the  king  decreed  that  the  steward  should 
be  put  to  death  by  having  molten  metal  poured  down  his  throat  (a  motif  borrowed 
perhaps  from  Virgilius) : 

The  kyng  bade  men  shuld  hyw  lede 

Wz'U-owt  >e  town,  in-to  a  mede, 

And  knyt  his  hondes  hym  behynde, 

And  to  a  poste  nakyd  hym  bynde, 

And  melte  sylu^r  and  eke  lede, 

And  powre  iw-to  his  mowth  till  he  be  dede; 

And  thus  }>e  styward  loste  his  lyff. 

1802.  Thurgh.     Dissyllabic  apparently  ;  see  note  to  1.  222. 

1836.  Except  for  the  ordinal,  identical  with  1.  2782 ;  see  note  to  1.  10. 

1857,  1858.  to  nyce,  For  to  force.  See,  for  a  similar  construction,  11.  2395-2396. 

1862.  dose.  R  reads  do  (see  note  to  1.  1265),  but  inconsistently  sets  thinkes,  in 
the  next  line,  in  the  indicative. 

1868.  A  line  of  three  stresses,  unless  old  is  to  be  read  as  two  syllables.  See 
notes  to  11.  84  and  222. 

1877  f.  For  a  summary  of  the  peculiar  features  of  the  different  versions  of 
tentamina,  and  for  certain  analogues  of  the  story,  see  the  Introduction,  pp.  xciii  f. 

1877.  it  was  whylum.    See  note  to  1.  31. 

1879.  a  nobil  whife.  C  seems  to  be  alone  in  telling  of  each  of  the  first  two 
wives  separately.  D*  and  K  omit  mention  of  the  second  wife  ;  F,  D,  and  H  omit 
mention  of  both  the  first  wife  and  the  second. 

1885.  in  liking  sted.  The  meaning  appears  to  be:  "in  a  vigorous  condition 
of  body  "  (and  hence  predisposed  to  a  second  marriage).  Sted  is  probably  a  noun, 
since  the  participle  takes  the  form  stad  in  1.  984. 

1901.  The  line  is  too  short.    See,  for  other  such  lines,  the  note  to  1.  84. 

1903,  1904.  litel  J?ai  mai  of  preue  note,  Or  els  noght.  I  take  this  to  mean : 
"  They  (old  men)  are  equal  to  little,  or  nothing,  of  secret  enjoyment  "  (or  "sexual 
intercourse");  see  A,  11.  1743-1744:  "Litel  thai  mai  do,  withouten  gabbe,  That 
yong  womman  wolde  habbe";  with  which  Ar,  11.  843-844,  E,  11.  1779-1780,  and  B, 
11.  1793-1794,  are  in  essential  agreement.  But  it  is  possible  that  J>ai  goes  back 
to  "gong  ivemen  (1.  1901),  in  which  case  note  is  the  infinitive  and  preue  a  noun 
(  =  Proof). 

1907.  Hir  liked  noght  his  o]?er  spell.  That  is,  "  She  did  not  like  his  talk  (his 
empty  declarations  of  love,  or  his  scoldings  because  of  his  jealousy)  either." 

1910.  According  to  K  mother  and  daughter  meet  on  the  occasion  of  an  annual 
feast ;  with  L  (A*)  and  the  Welsh  version  they  meet  at  the  end  of  the  daughter's 
first  year  of  wedded  life. 

1918.  Aid  men  er  oft  ful  fell.  A  line  of  three  stresses  (see  note  to  1.  84) 
unless  aid  is  to  be  read  as  a  dissyllable  (see  note  to  1.  222).  The  insertion  of  sif>es 
after  oft  would  save  the  line  ;  see  1.  2110  :  "  pat  old  men  oft  si^es  er  fell";  or  it 
may  be,  as  Professor  Bright  suggests,  that  aid  should  be  changed  to  aide. 


NOTES  167 

1922,  1923.  moght,  mai.  The  logic  of  the  change  in  tense  does  not  appear 
to  me. 

1924.  I  have  set  a  colon  after  this  line  since  it  seems  that.4>/.r  of  1.  1921  refers 
forward  to  1.  1925  f. 

1929.  With  D  the  mother  merely  suggests  that  the  husband  be  tested,  and 
does  not  in  any  case  specify  the  test ;  the  wife  bethinks  herself  of  each  of  the 
tests  after  the  corresponding  conference  has  been  brought  to  an  end. 

*935>  1936.  gardinere :  fire.  For  other  seemingly  imperfect  rhymes  see  note 
on  11.  229-230.  Perhaps  the  rhyme  is  a  reflection  of  the  Kentish  original,  though 
C  interchanges  e  and  i  pretty  freely ;  see,  for  instance,  the  rhyme  getin :  iveten 
(11.  1177-1178).  A  (11.  1765-1766),  which  has  the  same  rhyme,  spells  fer;  but  Ar 
(11.  865-866),  E  (11.  1799-1800),  B  (11.  1813-1814),  which  also  have  the  same  rhyme, 
spell  as  here. 

1943.  Whe]?er  J?e  gardenere  wald  or  noght.  In  L  (A*),  K,  and  H  the  gardener 
objects  to  cutting  down  the  tree,  and  the  wife  does  it  herself.  The  reading  here 
is  possibly  a  faint  reflection  of  that  detail. 

1977.  J>i.  In  R  only  the  first  letter  of  this  word  remains.  After  this  letter 
there  is  an  erasure  of  either  one  or  two  letters.  Perhaps  the  scribe  first  wrote  /?>, 
then,  observing  his  mistake,  proceeded  to  erase,  but  erased  two  letters  instead  of 
one,  and  forgot  to  rectify  the  mistake. 

1982.  According  to  L  (A*)  the  husband  had  just  returned  from  the  chase. 
She  removes  his  cloak  and  puts  a  robe  on  him. 

1988.  on  J?e  ladies  barm.  With  H,  p.  38,  the  dog  jumps  up  on  the  lady's  bed ; 
she  kills  him  by  throwing  him  against  the  walls  of  her  chamber.  With  L  (A*), 
p.  46,  the  wife  subsequently  regrets  that  she  had  killed  the  dog. 

2009.  A  preste.  L  (A*),  p.  47  :  "le  provoire  de  ceste  vile";  K,  1.  2676:  "  le 
chapelain,  Guillier  " ;  D*,  p.  27  :  "  Messire  Guillaume,  le  chappellain  de  la  parroisse." 

2012.  no.  Probably  a  scribal  error  for  noght,  which  is  the  reading  of  R  ;  though 
no  with  the  value  of  not  does  sometimes  occur  in  M.  E.,  —  as  in  William  of  Palerne, 
11.  67,  85,  127,  etc.;  and  Ipomadon  (A),  1.  24. 

2019.  ano]?er  gyn.  F  (11.  761-788)  inserts  another  test  before  the  final  test:  the 
killing  of  the  husband's  hawk. 

2026.  ett.  This  unusual  form  of  ete  appears  also  in  11.  2038,  2861,  3566,  and 
3580;  in  1.  2038  it  rhymes  with  set. 

2032.  A  grete  feste.    D*,  p.  27  :  "  la  feste  de  la  Toussains."    With  F  the  feast 
is  in  honor  of  the  relatives  of  husband  and  wife. 

2033.  What  helpes  to  mak  lang  tale.   The  stress  on  the  inflectional  syllable 
of  helpes  is  clumsy,  though  it  is  not  without  parallels  (see  11.  793,  2360,  and  3125). 
The  difficulty  might  be  avoided  either  by  emending  lang  to  langer  (see  the  cor- 
responding line  in  B  (1.  1917) :  "  What  nedyj?  to  make  lengar  tale  "),  or  by  insert- 
ing it  before  to  (see  a  list  of  parallel  expressions  by  Kittredge  in  Studies  and  Notes •, 
I,  p.  24  f.,  in  which  a  majority  of  the  closest  parallels  to  this  line  insert  an  object 
after  the  verb). 

2037.  Onnence.  See  N.  E.  D.  under  Anent.  The  meaning  here  appears  to  be 
by  the  side  of. 


168  NOTES 

2038.  According  to  F  he  calls  in  at  this  juncture  some  minstrels  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  his  guests. 

2042.  stirt  oway.  According  to  F  her  excuse  for  leaving  the  table  is  to  get 
some  wine ;  with  H,  to  get  a  knife ;  with  L  (A*),  to  get  her  husband's  knife  and 
his  chessboard. 

2053.  on  J>e  morn.  D:  on  the  night  of  the  feast.  D  is  also  independent  in  sub- 
stituting for  the  barber  a  brother  of  the  husband. 

2062.  )?e  thrid  time  thrawes  best.  This  I  take  to  mean:  "the  third  time 
throws  best,"  "the  third  throw  is  the  luckiest";  with  which  compare  the  sayings, 
"the  third  time's  the  charm,"  "the  third  time  tells  the  tale,"  "the  third  time 
never  fails."  Another  form  of  the  proverb  is,  as  Professor  Kittredge  suggests, 
"the  third  pays  for  all"  (Twelfth  Night,  V,  i,  40),  "the  third  payes  home" 
(Mirror  for  Magistrates,  ed.  Haslewood,  I,  p.  68). 

2080.  Elsewhere  it  is  said  explicitly  that  both  arms  were  bled.  C  implies  this 
in  the  wordy?rj/,  but  nowhere  says  so  explicitly. 

2091-2094.  These  lines,  though  nothing  corresponding  to  them  is  found  in  the 
O.F.  versions,  appear  also  in  A,  Ar,  E,  and  B. 

2105.  mi  dede  .  .  .  es  neste.  "  My  death  is  next,"  "  The  next  time  he  will 
take  my  life." 

2106-2108.  This  detail  is  omitted  by  D,  L  (A*),  and  D*,  but  it  appears  in  A,  Ar, 
E,  B,  and  H. 

21 1 1,  21 12.  Omitted  by  D  and  the  continental  versions. 

2116.  thrinfalde.  Cf.  J>rin  (J>rinne,  thrynne)  (O.N.  frrinnr),  which  usually 
means  threefold,  but  which  means  three  in  Ha-uelok,  11.  716,  761,  1977,  and  2091, 
and  in  Gawayne  and  the  Green  Knight,  1.  1 868. 

2133.  borowd,  i.e.,  "  redeemed,"   "set  free"  ;  see  N.  E.  D.  under  Borrow,  4. 

Heading  p.  73.  Neghend.  This  ordinal  appears  only  here  and  in  heading 
p.  74,  and  in  both  places  it  is  abbreviated.  The  spelling  I  have  adopted  is  that 
of  the  Pricke  of  Conscience,  1.  3988. 

2143.  aght.    See  Einenkel,  MittelengL  Syntax,  p.  116,  and  Kittredge,  Studies 
and  Notes,  III,  p.  321,  for  examples  of  the  impersonal  use  of  this  verb  in  Chaucer. 
See  also  van  der  Gaaf,  I.e.,  pp.  146-148,  for  sundry  other  examples,  together  with 
a  suggestion  as  to  the  origin  of  the  construction. 

2144.  thinges  J?at  me  es.    See  notes  to  11.  2280  and  3527.    Er  is  the  regular 
pres.  plu.  form;  see  11.  43,  363,  850,  1414,  1794,  1918,  etc.    Es  (is)  is  also  some- 
times used  with  a  plural  subject  in  the  Cursor  Mtmdi,  the  Pricke  of  Conscience, 
Ywain  and  Gawain,  and  other  Northern  texts ;   see  Rodeffer,  Inflection  of  the 
Pres.  Plu.  Ind.,  pp.  40,  43,  46,  48,  52,  58,  and  Kellner,  p.  48.    For  examples  of 
was  used  with  a  plural  subject,  see  note  to  1.  542. 

2146.  trowes.  As  pointed  out  in  the  note  to  1. 151,  the  pres.  plu.  ind.  is  invariably 
uninflected  when  it  comes  in  direct  contact  with  a  personal  pronoun  subject.    Here, 
however,  the  verb  is  not  in  direct  contact  with  its  subject,  and  hence  is  inflected ;  see 
Rodeffer,  I.e.,  p.  61  f.  and  passim.    Another  example  is  furnished  by  takes,  1.  3982. 

2147.  Cressent.    A  variant  of  Crassus,  which  is  the  reading  of  L  (A*)  and  E; 
A  and  B  have  Cressus,  and  Ar  Carfyus  or  Carfus.    The  name  Cressent  is  given  to 


NOTES  169 

the  tower  of  Octavian  in  gaza,  and,  in  some  versions,  to  the  tower  in  Roma  ;  see 
the  notes  to  11.  1317  and  3121. 

2159  f.  For  a  digest  of  the  chief  variations  of  the  different  versions  of  Virgilius, 
and  for  a  list  of  analogues,  with  a  discussion  of  their  source  and  interrelation, 
see  tha  Introduction,  pp.  xciv  f. 

In  F*  Virgilius  is  supplanted  by  a  pointless  story,  which,  after  Halliwell  (in  his 
brief  description  of  F,  Thornton  Romances,  p.  xliv),  I  call  "  The  Squire  and  his 
Borrow."  This  story,  like  the  story  substituted  for  senescalcus  (see  note  to  1.  1689), 
is  peculiar  to  F.  It  runs  as  follows  : 

Hyt  was  a  squyer  of  thys  centre, 
And  full  wel-belouyd  was  he ; 
Yn  dedys  of  armys  and  yn  justyng 
He  bare  hym  beste  yn  hys  begynnyng. 
So  hyt  befelle  he  had  a  systur  sone, 
That  for  syluyr  he  had  nome ; 
He  was  put  yn  preson  strong, 
And  schulde  be  dampned  and  be  hong. 
The  squyer  faste  thedur  can  gon, 
And  askyd  them  swythe  anon 
What  t>yng  he  had  borne  a-way ; 
And  they  answeryd  and  can  say, 
He  had  stolen  syluyr  grete  plente, 
Therfore  hangyd  schulde  he  bee. 
The  squyer  hym  profurd,  permafay, 
To  be  hys  borowe  tyll  a  certen  day, 
For  to  amende  that  he  mysdede. 
Anon  they  toke  hym  yn  that  stede, 
And  bounde  hym  faste  fote  and  honde, 
And  caste  hym  yn-to  preson  stronge ; 
They  let  hys  cosyn  go  a-way, 
To  quyte  hym  be  a  certen  day. 
Grete  pathes  then  vsed  he, 
And  men  he  slewe  grete  plente ; 
Moche  he  stale  and  bare  a-way, 
And  stroyed  the  centre  nyght  and  day : 
But  vpon  J>e  squyer  )?oght  he  nothyng, 
That  he  yn  preson  lafte  lyeng. 
So  that  tyme  came,  as  y  yow  say, 
But  for  the  squyer  came  no  paye  : 
He  was  hanged  on  a  galowe  tree. 
For  hym  was  dole  and  grete  pyte, 
When  the  noble  squyer  was  slon  ; 
For  hym  morned  many  oon. 
That  odur  robbyd  and  stale  moche  J>yng, 
And  sethyn  was  hangyd  at  hys  endyng.     [11.  1114-1149] 

2160.  Virgil.    D  substitutes  Merlin  for  Virgil. 

2163.  He  made  a  fire.    See,  for  the  history  of  this  detail,  p.  xciv. 


I/O  NOTES 

2163-2194.  The  whole  of  this  first  episode,  which  I  have  characterized  in  my 
discussion  of  the  analogues  of  the  story  as  Virgilius  I,  is  omitted  by  D.  H,  p.  42  f., 
describes  first  the  images  of  Virgilius  II,  then  takes  up  the  fire,  etc.,  and  later 
returns  to  the  episode  connected  with  the  images  of  Virgilius  II. 

2164.  on  J»e  pauement.    According  to  A  and  Ar,  in  the  market-place  (cheping). 

2168.   See,  for  other  lines  of  three  stresses,  the  note  to  1.  84. 

2177.  on  brede,  "over  a  wide  surface,"  "  very  legibly." 

2181.  Identical  with  1.  631.    See  note  to  1.  3. 

2182.  a  Lumbard.    According  to  L  (A*)  he  was  studying  at  Rome ;  K  and  D* 
have  instead  of  the  Lombard  a  Carthaginian  bishop. 

2198  f.  L  (A*),  p.  51,  omits  these  two  images,  but  they  appear  in  K,  D*,  and  H. 
H,  perhaps  under  the  influence  of  the  Gesta  Romanorum,  reports  the  first  part  of 
Virgilius  II  not  as  do  other  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages,  but  according  to  the 
version  of  Alexander  Neckam ;  see  H,  p.  42  :  "  Arte  sua  magica  quandam  turrem 
construxit  et  in  summitate  turris  in  circuitu  tot  ymagines,  quot  essent  in  mundo 
prouincie.  In  medio  vnam  ymaginem  fecerat,  que  pomum  aureum  in  manu  sua 
tenebat.  Quelibet  imago  campanellam  in  manu  sua  tenebat ;  quelibet  imago  pro- 
priam  faciem  ad  prouinciam  ei  assignatam  vertebat.  Et  quocienscumque  aliqua 
prouincia  volebat  contra  ciuitatem  romanam  se  opponere  ac  rebellare,  ilia  ymago 
illi  prouincie  assignata  campanam  pulsabat.  Tune  omnes  alie  imagines  eciam 
pulsabant.  Romani  hoc  audientes  se  armabant  et  ad  illam  prouinciam  domandam 
toto  conamine  pergebant  et  humiliabant,  ita  quod  nulla  prouincia  non  poterat 
tarn  priuate  ac  discrete  se  de  Romanis  vindicare,  quin  per  ymagines  turris  Romani 
essent  premuniti." 

2204.  with  ]>e  ball  J?e  childer  plaide.  With  K  and  D*,  they  toss  the  ball  at  a 
certain  time  every  Saturday. 

2209.  A  merure.  The  famous  Salvatio  Romae.  Tradition  has  it  that  this  mirror 
was  to  be  seen  at  Florence  as  late  as  the  seventeenth  century;  see  G.  Naude, 
Apologie  pour  tous  les  grands  Personnages,  Paris,  1625,  p.  627.  According  to 
another  story  it  was,  at  about  the  same  time,  among  the  treasures  of  the  Abbey 
of  St.  Denis  in  France ;  see  J.  F.  Doublet,  Histoire  de  VAbbaye  de  S.  Denys, 
Paris,  1625,  p.  347. 

221 1.  ere.  An  error  in  concord  made  probably  for  the  sake  of  the  rhyme; 
perhaps,  however,  by  attraction,  or  by  an  adjustment  to  the  notion  of  plurality 
inhering  in  ilk.  See  note  to  1.  123  ;  also  1.  2307,  where  ilka  man  appears  as  ante- 
cedent of  fraire.  Or  is  ere,  as  Professor  Bright  queries,  a  scribal  error  for  were  ? 

2215.  J?e  king  of  Poyl.  So  also  A,  Ar,  E,  B,  and  L  (A*) ;  K  and  D*  have 
instead  the  king  of  Hungary ;  H,  merely  three  kings. 

2227.  Twa  clerkes.  L  (A*),  p.  51 :  ".iii.  bachelers  qui  frere  estoient," but  later 
(p.  52) :  "  li  deus  freres."  A,  Ar,  E,  B,  D  :  two  brothers  ;  K  and  D*  :  four  sages  ; 
H:  four  knights. 

2231.  J>am,  i.e.,  the  two  coffers. 

2234.  at  J?e  west  sate,  etc.  D :  in  "  lyttyl  pyttys  twaye  " ;  L  (A*) :  at  each  of 
the  three  gates  of  the  city ;  K :  in  three  ditches ;  D* :  one  in  a  deep  ditch,  and 
three  others  at  as  many  crossings. 


NOTES  I/I 

2236.  J?at  thoght  wele  what  sold  former  fall.  "  Who  knew  well  what  else 
would  happen."  f>at  refers  to  the  twa  clerkes. 

2253.  rest.  In  other  versions  they  report  that  they  learn  of  the  whereabouts 
of  the  treasure  in  a  dream. 

2262.  pis  vowche  we  safe.    "  This  we  present  to  you  " ;  see  Century  Diction- 
ary under  vouchsafe  I,  2. 

2263.  ]?an.    It  is  barely  possible  that  the  MS.  reading,  J>ai,  is  correct,  but  the 
context  gives  the  very  strongest  support  to  fran,  which  is  the  reading  of  R. 

2280.  Es.    I  take  this  to  be  a  singular,  the  compound  subject  being  conceived 
of  as  a  unity.    But  es  is  used  with  a  plural  subject  at  least  once;  see  note  to 
1.  2144.    And  was  is  several  times  used  with  a  plural  subject ;  see  note  to  1.  542. 

2281,  2282.  In  al  Poyl,  etc.   H,  p.  44:  "tantum  .  .  .  quod  omnes  equi  romani 
non  portarent";  similarly  L  (A*),  p.  52  :  "si  grant  que  a  poine  le  porroient  trere 
tuit  li  cheval  de  vostre  cort " ;  D*,  p.  43 :  "  tresor  tel  que  oncques  Ottovien  ne 
Nabugodonosor  n'avoient  eu  la  pareil." 

2294.  Els,  "  provided  that."  See  JV.  E.  D.  under  Else,  5,  where  attention  is 
called  to  the  similar  use  of  anders  in  German. 

2307.  }?aire.  For  other  instances  of  faulty  reference,  see  note  to  1.  753.  See 
also  note  to  1.  2211. 

2311.  if,  apparently  with  the  meaning  of  although. 

2313.  With  D*,  many  people  were  killed ;  and  with  K,  thirty  houses  were  destroyed. 

2321,  2322.  brend:  assent.  Apparently  an  inexact  rhyme  (see  note  to  11.  229-230 
for  others) ;  but  perhaps  not  really  inexact :  see  the  spelling  brent,  1.  2133,  and  cf. 
Morris,  Pricke  of  Conscience,  p.  xxix  :  "  In  Hampole  Judith  rhymes  with  writt,  but 
what  is  still  more  curious  is  that  David  rhymes  with  Jiidith.  It  would  thus  appear 
that  </at  the  end  of  words  was  pronounced  as  t."  See  also  the  note  to  11.  2541-2542. 

2329  f.  L  (A*),  p.  54:  "  Si  prannent  or  fondu,  et  li  coulent  par  mi  la  bouche,  et 
par  mi  les  eulz,  et  par  mi  les  orilles,  par  mi  le  nez ;  si  li  distrent :  Or  vosis,  or 
convoitas,  or  auras,  et  d'or  morras."  According  to  D,  1.  2064  f.,  they  pour  pow- 
dered gold  into  his  eye-sockets  and  into  ears,  nose,  etc. 

2343.  glose.  Perhaps  to  be  explained  as  a  contract  form,  perhaps  as  due  to 
Midland  influence,  perhaps  as  an  uninflected  form  with  relative  subject  (see 
Rodeffer,  I.e.,  pp.  39,  41,  43,  56),  but  probably  as  an  uninflected  form  abbreviated 
in  the  interest  of  the  rhyme. 

2345.  The  MS.  reads :  "  And  J>ou  wil  mak  him  J>at  Jnne  are,"  which  makes  non- 
sense. I  have  stricken  out  J>at  (though  it  appears  also  in  R),  and  have  changed 
are  to  ayre  (the  reading  of  R).  See  A,  11.  2157-2158 : 

And  desire  to  make  thin  air, 
He  that  sschall  the  schende  vair ; 

Ar,  11.  1257-1258: 

And  desiren  to  make  byne  eyen? 

Of  him  \)at  schall  \>e  bryng  to  wykyd  spare ; 

andE,  11.  2183-2184: 

And  Jni  desyrest  thyne  ayre  to  make 
That  shalle  done  the  moche  wrake. 


1/2  NOTES 

2346.  payre,  impair,  injure.  See  N.  E.  D.  under  Pair  and  Appair.  The  word 
in  this  aphetic  form  appears  three  times  in  Piers  the  Plowman,  and  a  score  of 
times  in  its  full  form ;  see  Skeat's  glossary  to  his  edition. 

2360.  The  accent  upon  the  second  syllable  of  thanked  is  violent.  See  note  to 
1.  2033. 

2364.  After  this  line  R  inserts,  without  the  support  of  any  other  MS.,  the  fol- 
lowing couplet : 

His  turmentoure  sone  gert  he  call, 
And  fech  his  son  into  JTC  hall. 

2368.  Identical  with  1.  3178,  except  that  the  noun  in  that  line  is  plural.  See 
note  to  1.  10. 

2395,  2396.  Similarly  11.  1857-1858  :  "made  my  son  to  nyce,  For  to  force." 

2398.  To  saue  gowre  grace.    See  note  to  1.  744. 

2411  f.  For  the  features  peculiar  to  avis  in  the  Book  of  Sindibdd  and  in  the 
different  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  with  a  discussion  of  the  analogues 
of  the  story,  see  the  Introduction,  pp.  xcvii  f. 

2412.  a  burias.    In  As,  at  first  called  Annabill,  later  Balan. 

2415,  2416.  "  But  she  was  as  women  are  the  world  over  "  (i.e.,  tricky,  faithless). 
For  the  history  and  uses  of  the  phrase,  vnder  hyr  gare,  see  N.  E.  D.  under  Gore, 
and  Skeat's  notes  on  the  Cant.  Tales,  A,  11.  3236-3237,  and  B,  1.  1979.  Here  the 
phrase  is  practically  an  expletive. 

2417.  a  py.   D:  "a  popinjay." 

2419.  in  Frankis  langwage.  L  (A*),  p.  55:  "lalangue  romainne  " ;  As:  "in 
Romane  leid";  Ar,  B:  "in  Romayns  langage." 

2424.  anoj?er.  According  to  F,  a  priest ;  with  As  and  D*,  a  knight ;  according 
to  K  and  D*  later,  "Gerard,  le  filz  Thierry"  (see  note  to  1.  4145). 

2440.  Here  As  inserts  two  episodes,  as  follows  : 

He  enterit  J>an  till  his  paramour ; 
And  scantly  had  bene  )>ar  ane  hour, 
Quhen  >e  lord  callit  at  >e  get. 
Wpe  fraitlye  can  J>e  lady  get 
And  left  >e  knyc/it  gretlie  abasit. 
Bot  hir  moder  him  wp  has  rasit 
And  gaf  him  in  hand  ane  nakit  swerd 
And  bad  him  he  suld  speik  na  word 
Bot  evynw  befor  >e  dur  stand  still, 
Quhill  J?e  lord  enterit  at  his  will. 
The  lord  enters  and  saw  him  stand 
Sa  with  ane  nakit  swerd  in  hand. 
He  stottit  sumthing  and  syne  couth  speir : 
"  Quhat  art  )>ow  Jms  M  standes  heir  ? " 
Bot  he  spak  na  word  mar  nor  myn. 
Than  said  hir  moder  :  "  Sonrc,  mak  na  dyn«. 
Thre  kny^fes  to  sla  has  chasit  )>is  man 
And  for  girth  come  he  hidder  )?an. 


NOTES  173 

And  we  haf  savit  him  as  we  may, 
Quhill  we  trow  J>aj  be  gane  away. 
3ongates  he  stude,  for  he  nocht  wist, 
Bot  Se  had  bene  baj  Pat  him  mist ; 
He  dar  not  git  steir  for  \>e  feid. 
And  Jms  he  savit  js  Sit  fra  deid." 
The  lord  said  J>an  :  "  Jn  all,  j  se, 
3e  haf  done  Jjar  gret  cherite. 
And  }>arfor  hartfully  thank  j  Sow. 
And  j  sail  fande  to  kepe  him  now ; 
For  with  me  sail  he  sit  one-ane, 
Quhill  he  be  seker  his  fais  are  gane." 
And  gart  him  sit  vtit/i  him  rye  hi  f?ar 
And  maid  gud  cheir  and  mery  fair. 
The  pyot,  >at  J>e  manw  knewe, 
Scho  sesit  hir  sang  and  maid  na  glewe. 
The  \u\ycht  Seid  hame  J>an  at  J>e  last. 
The  burgess  till  his  pyot  past, 
Said :  "  My  deir  bird,  quhat  alis  }>e, 
That  synges  nocht  quhen  )?ow  seis  me  ?  " 
Scho  said :  "  J  se  \>j  scaith  sa  ryf ; 
§one  aid  carling  and  J?j  owne  wyf, 
Sa  fowlely  ]?aj  }>e  begyle 
That  j  may  no\>er  ane  syng  nor  smyle." 
The  hale  process  scho  him  tald, 
How  he  him  has  maid.cukkald. 
Quhilk  gretly  grevit  has  Balane, 
And  mawnasing  he  maid  him  J>an<? 
Unto  his  wyf.    Bot  scho  pertly 
Denyit  and  swor  opynly, 
That  )>aj  suld  neuer  be  but  baile, 
Quhill  he  trowit  J?e  pyotes  tale  ; 
Bot  he  suld  sone  knawe  sekerly 
The  gret  lesinges  of  J?at  falss  py. 

Hir  wordes  J>e  burgess  sumthing  trowit ; 
And  sone  otter  quhar  he  had  wowit, 
In  pilgrimage  is  passit  Balan. 
Than  scho  sone  send  for  hir  lewman, 
And  maide  him  feist  and  mery  cheir ; 
Thar  was  na  danteis  \>z\m  to  deir, 
Bot  gret  blythness  and  costly  meit ; 
And  \>e  pilgryme  all  quyte  forSet. 
Neu£?-J?eless,  in  J>e  myddes  of  J?e  fest, 
Quhen  at  Jxij  trowit  altyar  lest, 
Balan  at  his  awne  Set  couth  call ; 
Bot  J>an  J?aj  war  astonait  all. 
The  kny^/  was  hid  with  litill  dyn«. 
Syne  was  J?e  burgess  lattin  jn ; 
He  said  :  "  Gar  grath  my  bed  to  ly 
To  rest,  for  trewly  tyrit  am  j." 


174  NOTES 

Than  witless  was  his  wyf  allmast. 

Hir  moder  said :  "  Douchter,  haf  na  hast 

To  mak  his  bed,  quhill  he  haf  sene 

His  newe  maid  schete  ws  twa  betwene." 

Than  of  J?e  scheit  scho  liftit  ane  nuke, 

The  douchter  wp  ane-no^r  tuke, 

And  held  befor  ]?e  burgess  sicht, 

Quhill  quyte  owtchapit  was  >e  kny^t. 

Thus  clene  begylit  was  Balan, 

And  Sit  >e  wyf  he  thankit  }>an, 

That  J?aj  couth  mak  him  sic  a  claz'M. 

Bot  )?an  J?e  moder  swor  ane  aith : 

"  I  haf  maid  ma  of  sic  as  J?is." 

The  burgess  J>an  )>aim  baith  couth  kiss, 

And  till  his  bed  he  went  his  way. 

For  the  source  of  these  two  episodes  see  the  Introduction,  p.  xcviii,  note  2. 

2448.  vnto  chamber.  According  to  D  and  D*  she  entertains  him  in  the  hall, 
in  full  view  of  the  bird. 

244*9  f-  This  stratagem  is  variously  reported.  The  version  of  L  (A*),  pp.  56-57, 
is  as  follows :  "  Quant  il  fu  anuitie,  ele  prant  sa  chamberiere,  si  li  bailie  .i.  grant 
plomme  plein  d'eve  et  .i.  cierge  tout  ardant,  et  .i.  maillet  de  fust.  Quant  vint 
vers  la  mienuit,  ele  la  fet  monter  sur  la  meson,  ileuc  endroit  ou  la  pie  estoit ;  si 
commance  a  ferir  du  maillet  sur  les  essanles;  et  quant  ele  avoit  assez  feru,  si 
reprenoit  le  cierge,  le  boutoit  par  entre  les  essanles,  que  le  clarte  en  venoit  a  la 
pie,  enmi  les  eulz.  Apres  si  prenoit  le  plomme  et  versoit  1'eve  sus  la  pie.  Et  tele 
vie  mena  de  si  au  jor;  et  quant  il  fu  ajornez,  si  descent,  le  maillet  en  sa  main,  et 
le  cierge  en  1'autre.  Li  amis  a  la  dame  s'en  ala."  —  The  maid  also  figures  in  A, 
Ar,  E,  B,  As,  H,  and  the  Mischle  Sindbad.  D*  and  K  substitute  for  the  maid  a 
trusted  manservant ;  D  has  instead  a  boy.  —  According  to  As,  K,  D*,  and  H  one 
of  the  devices  for  befooling  the  bird  is  the  dropping  of  small  sandstones  over 
the  cage  ;  with  D,  another  device  is  the  breaking  of  great  blown  bladders. 

2473-2476.  Peculiar  to  this  redaction. 

2491.  Before  this  line  there  appears  in  the  MS.  the  rubricated  character  which 
is  used  to  indicate  paragraph  division,  but  paragraph  division  here  is  illogical. 
See  note  to  1.  17. 

2511.  his  mense.    With  other  versions,  both  English  and  French,  his  neighbors. 

2522  f.  D  abridges  the  second  half  of  avis,  omitting  the  merchant's  discovery 
of  the  wife's  deception  and  his  regret  for  killing  the  bird. 

2533.  He  toke  a  staf  was  gude.  For  other  instances  of  the  omitted  relative 
see  note  to  1.  988. 

2535.  flemed  hir.  So  L  (A*),  p.  58  :  "  chace  sa  fame  hors  de  sa  mason."  With 
B,  he  sends  her  to  her  paramour ;  with  K  and  D*,  he  puts  her  to  death ;  with  F, 
the  wife  and  her  paramour,  a  priest,  bring  the  husband  to  death ;  with  As  and  H, 
the  husband  breaks  his  spear  in  three  and  goes  on  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy 
Land. 

2537-2544.  Peculiar  to  this  redaction. 


NOTES  175 

2541,  2542.  R  has  here  the  rhyme  herd ' :  -erth,  which  is,  however,  a  perfect 
rhyme  perhaps;  see  note  to  11.  2321-2322. 

2562.  negh.  The  MS.  has  neght,  a  form  which  I  cannot  find  paralleled  and 
which  I  take  to  be  a  scribal  error. 

2577.  Identical  with  1.  3061.    See  note  to  1.  3. 

2579  f.  For  the  characteristic  features  of  the  different  versions  of  sapientes, 
and  for  various  analogues  of  the  story,  see  the  Introduction,  pp.  c  f. 

2588.  A  custume.  K  and  D*  reserve  the  account  of  this  custom  until  just 
after  the  king's  instructions  to  the  clerks  to  find  a  cure  for  his  blindness. 

2595-2600.   Peculiar  to  this  redaction. 

2602.  With  F,  the  clerks  build  a  treasure-house  just  above  the  city's  gate. 

2605  f.  With  K  and  D*,  the  king's  horse  balks  at  the  city  gate  whenever  the 
king  attempts  to  go  outside  the  city ;  with  H,  the  king  becomes  blind  whenever  he 
goes  outside  his  palace,  but  he  regains  his  sight  on  his  return  to  the  palace ;  with 
L,  in  like  manner  apparently,  Herod  is  blind  only  so  long  as  he  remains  outside 
the  city.  With  the  Welsh  version,  the  king's  blindness  is  occasioned,  so  he 
dreams,  by  sparks  from  a  caldron ;  see  p.  657  of  the  translation  :  "  Each  night  the 
king  saw  in  his  sleep  a  cauldron  with  seven  feet  and  vapor  rising  therefrom,  just 
as  though  there  had  been  a  mighty  fire  beneath ;  and  sparks,  it  seemed  to  him, 
came  from  them  about  his  eyes  and  blinded  him,  as  he  thought." 

2607.  a.  R  reads  any,  and  is  supported  by  Ar,  1.  1481 ;  but  C  has  the  support 
of  B,  1.  2451.  In  either  case  the  rhythm  is  bad. 

2609.  asked  Jram.  With  F,  11.  1326  f.,  he  threatens  to  hang  them  unless  they 
will  account  for  his  malady. 

2611.  four  skore.  The  original  reading  of  the  MS.  has  been  imperfectly 
erased,  and  the  space  has  been  filled  in  with  what  I  take  to  be  four  skore;  four 
is  quite  legible,  as  also  the  re  of  skore.  This  reading,  however,  is  unique.  Ar 
(1.  1485),  E  (1.  2413),  and  B  (1.  2455)  read,  with  R,  seuen  ;  A  (1.  2363)  has  fourten  ; 
F  (1.  1336)  has  xii. ;  L  (A*)  (p.  59)  has  viii. ;  and  D*  (p.  21)  has  xv.  According  to 
1.  2633  the  clerks  go  in  search  of  Merlin  for  fourteen  days,  which  would  seem  to 
lend  some  support  to  the  reading  of  A,  but,  obviously  enough,  it  does  not  neces- 
sitate that  reading. 

2619.  sone  efter.   According  to  B,  two  days  after. 

2630  f.  D  omits  the  search  for  Merlin.  D*  retains  the  episode,  but  alters  it 
considerably;  see  pp.  21,  22  of  that  version. 

2631-2634.   Apparently  peculiar  to  this  redaction. 

2635  f.  In  the  introduction  to  his  edition  of  Arthour  and  Merlin  (Altengl. 
Bibk.  IV),  p.  civ,  Kolbing  pointed  out  a  resemblance  between  the  lines  corre- 
sponding to  these  in  A  (11.  2389  f.)  and  a  passage  in  Arthour  and  Merlin.  This 
passage  (11.  1195  f.)  is  as  follows : 

On  a  day,  as  ich  Sou  telle, 
po  ich  }>re  sechers  snelle, 
pat  were  ysent  fram  \>e  king, 
To  hauen  of  Jris  child  findeing, 
Comen  al  |>re  bi  cas 


176  NOTES 

In-to  )>e  toun  J>er  Merlin  was, 
Merlin  in  J>e  strete  >o  pleyd, 
And  on  of  his  felawes  him  trayd, 
pat  him  seyd  loude  to: 
"  Foule  schrewe,  f ram  ous  go : 
pou  art  al  biSeten  amis, 
pou  nost  who  \>\  fader  is, 
Ac  some  deuel,  as  ich  wene, 
pe  bi£at,  ous  euer  to  tene!" 

On  the  strength  of  the  resemblances  between  this  passage  and  parts  of  A,  and 
because  of  certain  agreements  in  phraseology  and  rhyme  Kolbing  (I.e.,  pp.  Ix  f., 
Ixxxii),  inclined  to  the  belief  that  A  and  the  Auchinleck  version  of  Arthour  and 
Merlin  were  by  the  same  author ;  but,  as  I  have  shown  (A  Study  of  The  Seven 
Sages,  pp.  85  f.),  any  inferences  to  be  drawrn  from  these  agreements  must  hold  all 
but  equally  well  for  Ar  and  for  E  as  for  A. 

2638.  called  him  lurdan.    Omitted  by  K  and  D*. 

2645.  Merlyn.    K  substitutes  Jesse  for  Merlin. 

2650.  According  to  F,  Merlin  adds  that  his  first  counsel  to  the  king  will  be  to 
put  the  clerks  to  death. 

2657.   With  A,  Ar,  and  E,  Merlin  declines  the  besant. 

2663.  in  ]?i  myding.  A,  E,  B  :  "  in  J>i  donghel "  ;  L  (A*) :  "  en  mi  ton  foier  " ;  K, 
D* :  "  in  the  ruins  of  your  house  "  (recently  burned).  In  the  Welsh  version  the  inter- 
pretation of  the  king's  dream  is  as  follows  (see  Jones's  translation,  p.  657)  :  "  The 
cauldron  that  thou  seest  in  thy  sleep,  betokens  this  city ;  the  seven  feet  [see  note 
to  11.  2605  f.]  that  thou  seest  are  the  seven  men  that  govern  it,  brimming  over  with 
too  much  riches  and  working  treason  against  thee  unless  they  are  at  once  slain." 

2681.  So  L  (A*),  p.  60:  "  li  sages  em  pristrent  a  lor  volante."  Other  M.  E. 
MSS.  omit  this  detail. 

2685.  Als.  C  reads  And,  which  I  take  to  be  a  scribal  error.  This  view  has  the 
support  Of  R  and  the  context.  The  fact  that  and  is  spelled  out  here  whereas 
elsewhere  in  C  (except  in  11.  1059,  3289,  and  4255)  it  is  abbreviated,  and  the  near- 
ness of  another  and,  also  support  this  view. 

2685  f.  With  K  and  D*,  he  now  tells  them  of  the  presence  of  the  caldron 
under  the  emperor's  bed. 

2694.  couret.    See  note  on  1.  394  for  two  other  instances  of  medial  curled  r. 

2700.  yowre.    Elsewhere  in  C  invariably  spelled  with  a  5. 

2762.  According  to  F,  after  slaying  the  masters  he  dealt  out  to  the  poor  the 
treasure  they  had  amassed.  According  to  the  Welsh  version  he  did  not  follow 
Merlin's  counsel,  and  consequently  was  finally  put  to  death  by  the  masters. 

2768.  H,  p.  34,  adds  :  "  Merlinum  ad  divicias  et  honores  promouit." 

2798.  J>arof  J?e  burd  think  mekil  shame.  That  is,  "Of  that  it  behooved 
thee  to  be  much  ashamed,"  "  You  should  be  much  ashamed  of  that " ;  cf.  Ar, 
1.  1673  :  "  pou  aughtyst,  sir,  ]>eir<?of  to  schame."  Burd  is  a  form  of  the  M.  E.  pret- 
erite of  A.  S.  gebyrian.  For  its  history,  see  van  der  Gaaf,  I.e.,  pp.  4  and  40  f. 
For  other  M.  E.  examples,  see  van  der  Gaaf,  pp.  40-41,  and  Matzner,  Altengl. 


NOTES  177 

Sprachpr.,  II,  i,  p.  371,  under  buren,  biren,  beren.  To  the  citations  there  given 
should  be  added  An  Alphabet  of  Tales,  E.  E.  T.  S.,  CXXVI,  pp.  82,  98,  135,  155, 
156,  165  (burd),  and  p.  119  (burde). 

2811  f.  For  a  summary  of  the  chief  variations  of  vidua  in  the  different  versions 
of  The  Seven  Sages,  and  for  a  listing  and  discussion  of  the  numerous  variants  and 
analogues  of  the  story,  see  the  Introduction,  pp.  ci  f. 

In  H  vidua  is  told  by  the  seventh  sage  rather  than  by  the  sixth.  The  sixth 
sage  then  tells  the  story  amatores,  which  appears  in  no  other  version  of  The  Seven 
Sages  of  Rome,  but  originally  belonged  to  the  Book  of  Sindibdd. 

2812.  a  knight.   A,  Ar,  B,  D  :  a  sheriff ;  A*,  p.  80  :  "  .i.  vicomte  en  Loherainne"  ; 
D*,  K :  "  ung  conte  de  Lorraine  " ;  the  Welsh  version :  "  a  sheriff  of  Lesodonia." 

2813.  a  ful  faire  whif.    According  to  F  and  D*  (under  the  influence,  perhaps, 
of  tentamind),  a  young  wife.    F  also  has  it  that  the  knight  had  never  permitted 
her  to  go  a  half  mile  from  him. 

2819.  als  J>ai  plaied.   So  H,  p.  64  :  "cum  taxillis  ludebant."    But  A*,  p.  80: 
"  dont  il  voloit  doler  .i.  boudon"  ;   K,  D*  :  while  he  was  cutting  a  stick  ;  F  :  while 
paring  a  pear  ;  the  Welsh  version :  while  he  was  cutting  a  spearshaft. 

2820.  in  hir  fynger.   A*,  p.  80  :  "  el  pouce";  and  so  also  E,  B,  K,  D*.     F,  H : 
in  the  hand ;  A,  Ar :  "  in  the  wombe." 

2822.  With  D*  and  H,  he  swoons  ;  with  H,  she  dashes  water  in  his  face,  where- 
upon he  revives  somewhat,  and  has  her  send  for  priest  and  sacraments.  He  asks 
after  a  priest  also  in  F.  In  the  Welsh  version  he  stabs  himself  in  the  breast. 

2826-2829.  An  instance  of  C  's  tendency  at  times  to  amplify  in  the  interest  of 
picturesqueness.  Other  MSS.  that  have  this  detail  are  quite  general,  or  merely 
assert  vaguely  that  a  mass  wras  celebrated  before  the  burial.  See  note  to  1.  3148. 

2827.  series,  wax  candles,  or  tapers.  From  O.  F.  cerge  (cirge,  cierge),  Lat. 
cereus.  See  N.  E.  D.  under  Cierge. 

2830.  brog&t  vnder  molde.  With  A*,  D*,  and  D,  he  was  buried  outside  the 
city  (A*,  p.  80 :  "  Li  cors  fu  portez  au  moustier,  dehors  la  vile,  ou  il  avoit  .i. 
cimetiere  nouvel ").  According  to  the  Welsh  version  he  was  buried  inside  a 
church,  and  hence  there  is  no  mention  of  the  lodge. 

2843,  2844.  This  couplet  R  arbitrarily  omits.    See  note  to  11.  1279-1280. 

2850.  hir  frendes  was  ful  wa.  Was  is  used  with  a  plural  subject  in  several 
instances  (see  note  to  1.  542);  but  here  I  think  it  most  likely  that  the  construction 
is  impersonal,  the  grammatical  subject  being  omitted  (see  note  to  1.  68)  and 
frendes  being  in  the  dative  case.  Cf.  "so  was  her  wa,"  1.  1397;  Sir  Tristrem, 
1.  2769  :  "  him  was  ful  wa  "  ;  Amis  and  Amil.,  1.  352  :  "  J>e  is  ful  wo  " ;  King  Horn 
(C),  11.  115,  116:  "Ofte  hadde  horn  beo  wo,  Ac  neure  wurs  >an  him  was  )>o"; 
Chaucer's  Book  of  the  Drichesse,  11.  565  and  572 :  "  me  is  wo";  and  the  common 
exclamation,  "  Woe  is  me  ! "  The  same  construction  is  perhaps  used  again  in 
1.  3745.  See  Einenkel,  p.  112  f. ;  Zupitza,  note  to  Guy  of  Warwick  (B),  1.  1251  ; 
and  Hall,  note  to  King  Horn,  11.  115,  116. 

2862.  cried.  The  MS.  has  shied,  which  is,  I  take  it,  a  scribal  error  due  to 
dittography.  Professor  Bright  suggests,  however,  that  shied  may  be  a  scribal  error 
for  shried,  aphetic  form  of  ascry. 


178  NOTES 

2865.  outlaws  thre.  F  and  H,  in  accord  with  many  of  the  variants  of  vidua, 
mention  only  one  robber.  So  also  with  the  Welsh  version  at  first,  but  later  it 
appears  that  there  were  several  robbers.  All  other  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages 
are  in  accord  with  C. 

2871.  Anoper  knyght.  With  K,  named  "  Gerart  le  fil  guion"  ;  with  D*,  "  Her- 
vieu  le  filz  Guyon." 

2903.  Preceded  by  a  rubricated  character,  but  obviously  not  the  beginning  of 
a  new  paragraph.  See  note  to  1.  17. 

2905.  me  es  ful  kalde.  An  interesting  impersonal  construction.  Van  derGaaf 
in  his  dissertation,  The  Transition  from  the  Impersonal  to  the  Personal  Construc- 
tion in  M.  £.,  takes  no  account  of  it,  and  I  have  met  with  no  parallels. 

2908.  In  ]?is  close.  R  has  instead,  "  Here  in,  sir,"  repeating  1.  2902.  The  diver- 
gence of  R  from  C  is  unusually  wide. 

2962.  wat.    See,  for  similar  forms,  note  to  1.  28. 

2972.  The  line  is  too  short.  See  also  1.  3021  and  the  note  thereon.  For  other 
such  lines,  see  note  to  1.  84.  A,  1.  2664,  avoids  the  difficulty  by  reading  spousi  in 
place  of  wed.  Ar,  1.  1790,  reads:  "  Wzt>£  >at  j?ou  wylt  my  leman  be";  and  E, 
1.  2675,  similarly  :  "  If  )>u  wylt  my  lewman  be." 

2988.  In  hir  faith  sho  was  ful  fals.  So  A*,  p.  84:  "moult  fu  tost  ses  cuers 
muez  et  changiez."  Other  M.  E.  MSS.  are  silent  here. 

2992.  had  a  wonde.   H,  p.  67,  adds  that  his  ears  had  also  been  cut  off. 

2997.  draw  owt  ]?i  swerde.    With  D,  she  draws  a  knife. 

2998.  thar,  needs.  The  pret.,  thurt,  occurs  in  1. 1522.  See  Cant.  Tales,  A,  1.  4320, 
Z>,  11.  329,  336,  1365,  H,  \.  352 ;  see  also  N.  E.  D.  under  Dare,  A,  9,  and  van  der 
Gaaf,  I.e.,  p.  1 54. 

fered.  The  MS.  reads  lered.  But  fered  has  the  support  of  both  R  and  the 
context. 

3002.  According  to  H  his  excuse  is  as  follows  (p.  67) :  "  Dum  erat  vivus,  socius 
meus  erat  et  ideo  dedecus  militi  vivo  esset  quod  talem  despectum  mortuo  perpe- 
traret." 

3011.  His  forteth.  So  all  other  M.  E.  MSS.  except  F  and  D,  which  are  in 
accord  with  A*,  p.  84  :  "  .ii.  des  denz"  ;  with  A*  also  are  K  and  H. 

3018.  smate  his  fortheth  out.  F,  H,  and  the  Welsh  version  each  add  a  third 
mutilation  here.  The  addition  of  F  is  as  follows  (11.  1015-1020) : 

"  Dame,"  he  seyde,  "  y  vndurstonde 
He  fayled  t-waye  fyngers  of  hys  honde." 
"  Syr,"  sche  seyde,  "  so  mot  y  the, 
He  schall  anon  fayle  thre." 
Sche  toke  hys  swyrde  be  hys  syde, 
And  smate  of  thre  fyngers  yn  \>ai  tyde. 

H  makes  the  following  addition  (pp.  67,  68) :  " '  Latro,  qui  erat  captus,  duobus 
testiculis  carebat.  Si  vero  iste  cum  testiculis  inuentus  fuerit  in  patibulo,  dicetur 
quod  ille  non  sit  et  sequetur  confusio.'  At  ilia :  '  Tarn  timidum  hominem  nun- 
quam  vidi;  tamen  bonum  est  te  esse  securum.  Succide  testiculos  eius  cito,  ut 


NOTES  179 

suspendatur ! '     At  ille  :   «  O  bona  domina,  parcas  michi ! .  .  .'     At  ilia :    '  Et  ego 
faciam  pro  tuo  amore  ! '     Statim  testiculos  eius  abscidit." 

According  to  the  Welsh  version  (in  agreement  with  certain  derivatives  of  vidua, 
as  the  versions  of  Marie  de  France  and  Walter  of  England),  the  knight  reminds 
the  widow  that  the  robber  was  bald,  and  she  has  accordingly  to  pluck  the  hair 
from  his  head ;  see  Jones's  translation,  p.  656 :  "  Yes,  said  the  knight  then,  the 
robber  was  bald.  I  will  make  him  bald,  said  she ;  and  she  took  her  husband's 
head  between  her  knees  with  her  two  feet  on  his  two  shoulders.  No  woman 
shearing  or  man  shaving  ever  was  as  quick  as  ,she  in  plucking  her  husband's 
head.  And  quickly  from  his  forehead  to  the  crown  of  his  head  she  left  not  a  hair 
without  plucking  it  away  more  than  the  parchment-maker  leaves  on  parchment." 

3021.  The  line  is  too  short;  see  1.  2972:  "If  >at  K>u  wil  wed  me,"  and  the 
note  to  1.  84,  where  sundry  other  such  lines  are  pointed  out.   Professor  Kittredge, 
however,  suggests  that  this  line  should  be  scanned  as  follows : 

Sir,  now  sdl  )>ou  wed  (x)  me. 

3022.  See  note  to  1.  1153. 

3028.  H,  p.  68,  adds  that  the  knight  then  drew  his  sword  and  struck  off  the 
widow's  head. 

3038.  righ[t]wis.  The  reading  of  R;  C  has  righwis.  The  scribe  of  C  also 
omitted  the  t  after  igh  in  wightly,  1.  3374. 

3039-3042.  This  speech  of  the  Emperof  is  omitted  by  other  M.  E.  MSS. 
It  appeared  in  the  O.  F.,  however;  see  A*,  p.  85  :  "  Dex,  dit  li  emperieres,  se  je 
pooie  savoir  qui  auroit  tort,  ou  lui  ou  ma  feme,  certes  je  en  feroie  si  cruel  juge- 
ment  comme  mi  baron  sauroient  esgarder." 

Headings  p.  104.  Threttende.  The  word  appears  only  in  these  two  head- 
ings, and  in  both  instances  it  is  abbreviated.  The  spelling  adopted  is  that  of  the 
Pricke  of  Conscience,  1.  7173. 

3057>  3058.  herd  se  neuer  J?e  geste,  etc.  Also  in  the  O.  F.  (A*,  p.  85,  and  K, 
1.  2347).  Evidently  a  bait  thrown  out  to  the  Emperor,  for  the  romancer  scarcely 
means  to  imply  that  we  have  in  Roma  the  origin  of  the  Feast  of  Fools. 

3058.  J?e  foles  feste.  The  Feast  of  Fools  was  the  famous  mediaeval  celebra- 
tion at  New  Year ;  it  wras  held  by  the  inferior  clergy  in  cathedrals  and  collegiate 
churches.  See,  for  an  extensive  bibliography  of  the  subject  and  for  a  very  sub- 
stantial discussion  of  its  history  and  meaning,  E.  K.  Chambers,  The  Mediceval 
Stage,  Oxford,  1903,  I,  pp.  274-335. 

3061.  Identical  with  1.  2577.    See  note  to  1.  3. 

3063  f.  For  a  summary  of  the  chief  variations  in  the  different  versions  of  Roma, 
and  for  a  discussion  of  its  analogues,  with  a  suggestion  as  to  its  origin,  see 
the  Introduction,  pp.  cviii  f. 

In  H,  as  has  been  observed  in  the  note  to  1.  1689  f.,  Roma  is  appended  to  senes- 
calcus.  The  version  of  Roma  as  it  appears  in  the  Welsh  redaction  is  unique  in 
that  it  presents  a  fusion  of  the  story  with  the  fable  of  the  wolves  and  the  sheep 
(Rom.,  Ill,  13 ;  Caxton's  Aesop,  ed.  Jacobs,  II,  p.  87).  In  Jones's  translation  (p.  653) 
the  story  runs  thus : 


l8o  NOTES 

"  There  was  a  wealthy  and  strong  city  in  the  East,  and  seven  proper  and  wise 
men  were  keeping  and  governing  the  city.  And  it  was  not  in  the  garrison,  nor  in 
the  citizens,  that  the  strength  of  the  city  lay,  but  in  the  learning  and  cleverness 
of  the  men.  And  meanwhile  there  came  a  cruel  and  mighty  king,  to  try  to  subdue 
the  city.  And  after  sitting  before  the  town,  and  planting  engines  against  it,  the 
king  did  not  prosper,  because  of  the  cleverness  of  the  men  within,  guarding  their 
city.  And  when  the  subtle  king  saw  that  the  town  was  not  taken  by  fighting,  he 
at  once  promised  to  retire  from  it,  saying  he  would  not  fight  the  multitude  in  the 
city,  on  condition  they  would  send  him  the  seven  men  aforesaid.  And  the  sense- 
less people,  without  seeing  the  treachery  and  the  smart  that  was  hidden  under- 
neath the  leaves,  believed  the  lie  and  deceit  of  the  king's  promises,  and  took  the 
men,  and  put  them  in  bonds,  thinking  to  send  them  out  to  him. 

"  And  then  rose  up  one  of  the  wise  men  and  spake  thus,  Good  sirs,  said  he, 
it  will  befall  you  through  believing  yonder  cruel  king,  after  giving  us  into  his 
power,  as  the  wolf  formerly  cheated  the  shepherd.  How  was  that  ?  said  they. 
A  cruel  and  wicked  wolf  was  seeking  occasion  and  opportunity  against  the  shep- 
herds and  animals,  to  slay  them,  but  fleet  mastiffs,  which  the  shepherd  had, 
allowed  him  no  rest,  either  in  forest  or  field.  And  when  the  wolf  saw  this,  he 
promised  peace  and  quiet  everlastingly  to  the  shepherd  and  his  beasts,  if  he 
caught  the  dogs  and  bound  them,  and  gave  them  over  to  him.  And  the  foolish 
shepherd  believed  the  wolf's  lying  words,  and  sent  the  dogs  to  the  wolf,  and  he 
quickly  killed,  first,  the  dogs,  then  the  beasts,  and  at  last  the  shepherd.  Right  so 
will  ye  all  be  put  to  death  by  yonder  cruel  king,  if  ye  believe  him,  after  he  has 
slain  us.  As  God  lives,  we  will  not  believe  him,  or  ever  give  you  up  into  his 
power.  And  then  by  their  counsel  they  overcame  him  and  slew  him." 

3065.  seuyn  hathen  kinges.  With  D,  only  three  kings;  with  H,  merely  one, 
the  steward  who  had  figured  in  senescalcus. 

3077,  3078.  Found  elsewhere  only  in  F;  see  note  to  1.  1189. 

3087.  A  moneth.  So  also  A,  Ar,  E,  B,  F.  A*,  p.  86,  has  ".vii.  mois";  D,  seven 
days ;  D*,  three  months  ;  and  K,  six  months. 

3097.  Genus,  the  Janus  of  Roman  myth.  D  does  not  mention  the  clerk's 
name  till  later  (in  1.  2730),  when  it  calls  him  Gyneuer. 

3099.  And  efter  him  es  named  lenuere.  So  A*,  p.  86:  "  et  pour  celui  Genus 
dit  Ten  jenvier  "  ;  similarly  F,  1.  1694 :  "  And  aftur  hym  men  calle  a  mony>  of  >e 
yere."  Other  M.  E.  MSS.  are  silent  here,  or  reserve  this  detail  until  the  very 
end  of  the  story.  According  to  Ar,  which  calls  the  sage  Julius,  the  month  named 
after  him  is  July. 

3104.  With  swerel  tailes,  etc.  Some  of  the  other  MSS.  are  a  trifle  more 
faithful  to  the  O.  F.  here  ;  see  Ar,  E,  B,  F :  "  squirrel  tales  a  thousand  and  more  " 
=  A*,  p.  86 :  "  queues  d'escureus  plus  d'un  millier." 

3106.  The  text  of  A  ends  with  the  line  corresponding  to  this  (in  Weber's 
edition,  1.  2780). 

3110.  See  note  to  1.  78. 

3111,  3112.    tonges  .  .'.  bright  glowand,  etc.    A*,  p.  86:  "dont  les  langues, 
f urent  ausi  vermeilles  comme  charbons  qui  art."  —  See  note  to  1.  78. 


NOTES  181 

3114.  With  Ar,  E,  and  B,  he  also  sent  word  to  the  enemy  that  he  was  ready 
for  battle. 

3121.  a  towre.  A*,  p.  86:  "la  tour  du  Cressant "  ;  so  also  K,  Ar,  E,  F.  See 
note  to  1.  1317. 

3132.  ane  angel  bright.  A*,  p.  87  :  "  Li  diex  des  Crestiens  "  ;  so  also  K,  D*, 
F,  and  D. 

3144.  gode  wane  =  large  number  or  quantity;  Weber  renders:  "in  good 
manner,  gallantly."  Wane  occurs  also  in  11.  265  and  3542. 

3148.  mekil  gold  and  gude  armowre.  According  to  A*,  p.  87,  merely  "grant 
avoir";  other  MSS.  either  omit  or  are  equally  unspecific.  See  note  to  11.  2826- 
2829. 

3 15 1-3156.  This  feature  seems  to  be  peculiar  to  Y;  it  appears  here  and  in  Ar, 
B,  and  F,  but  is  omitted  by  D,  A*,  K,  D*,  and  H. 

3159.  And  J?ou  mun  be  ful  fayn,  may  fall.  So  F,  1.  1744  :  "  And  Jwu  schalt, 
so  hyt  may  be-falle."  For  other  instances  of  the  impersonal  construction  with- 
out a  grammatical  subject,  see  note  to  1.  68. 

3164-3170.    An  addition  of  this  redaction. 

3188.  Maxencius.  A*,  p.  88,  adds  that  he  was  thirty-seven  years  old,  yet  knew 
all  the  seven  arts. 

3194.  The  same  as  1.  40.    See  note  to  1.  3. 

3213,  3214.  This  couplet  appears  elsewhere  only  in  F.    See  note  to  1.  1189. 

3235  f.  For  a  summary  of  the  Dolopathos  version  of  inclusa,  with  the  chief 
variations  among  the  several  versions  of  The  Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  together  with 
a  listing  of  the  derivatives  and  analogues  of  the  story,  see  the  Introduction, 
pp.  cix  f . 

Inclusa  is  omitted  by  L  and  S,  and  in  H  is  put  into  the  mouth  of  the  Queen  (see 
Paris,  Detix  Redactions,  pp.  xxxii  f.). 

3236.  Hungery.   So  also  Ar,  E,  B,  F,  D ;  but  A*,  p.  89,  has  Monbergier. 

3239  f.  For  other  examples  of  dream-begotten  love,  see  Dunlop,  History  of  Fic- 
tion, ed.  Wilson,  I,  pp.  258  f. 

3254.  him  dremyd.  See  Chaucer's  Sir  Thopas,  B,  1.  1977  :  "  Me  dremed  al  J>is 
nyght,  pardee,"  and  Rom.  of  Rose,  1.  51  :  "That  it  was  May  thus  dremed  me." 

3259.  monethes  thre.  So  also  Ar,  E,  and  F.  According  to  B,  one  month ; 
according  to  D,  A*,  K,  and  D*,  three  weeks. 

3264.  Hungeri.  Inconsistent  with  11.  3236  f.,  according  to  which  the  knight 
had,  three  months  before,  left  Hungary.  A*  also  has  Hungary  here,  but  has  the 
knight  set  out  from  Monbergier.  Ar,  which,  like  C,  makes  Hungary  the  home  of 
the  knight,  avoids  any  inconsistency  by  reading  Pletys  here  (see  note  to  1.  4136); 
in  like  manner,  E,  F,  and  D  substitute  Apulia  for  Hungary  here. 

3272.  Except  for  the  verb,  identical  with  1.  10  ;  R  has  bare  instead  of  had,  and 
hence  is  quite  identical  with  1.  10. 

3275.  might  noght  out.    For  other  instances  of  the  omission  of  the  infinitive, 
see  note  to  1.  699. 

3276.  A*,  p.  90,  adds  here  :  "  En  la  tour  avoit  huis  de  fer  bienbarrez.    Li  sires 
emportoit  les  cles  tot  jourz."    This  information  C  brings  in  later,  in  11.  3347-3348. 


182  NOTES 

3282.  white  so  flowre.  This  comparison  appears  also  in  Ar,  E,  and  F,  but  is 
not  in  A*.  It  is  naturally  very  common;  see  Kaluza's  note  to  Lib.  Desc.,  1.  1489, 
and  Hall's  note  to  King  Horn,  11.  15-16.  For  other  comparisons  in  C,  see  note 
to  1.  78. 

3294.  At  ]?e  ches.  Peculiar  to  this  redaction.  See  notes  to  11.  2826-2829  and 
3148. 

3301  f.  D  reserves  the  knight's  explanation  of  the  cause  of  his  flight  until 
later  (see  D,  11.  2961  f.),  when  the  knight  explains,  at  the  instance  of  the  wife, 
the  occasion  for  his  returning  home. 

3314.  mystere.  The  same  word  is  used  in  the  O.  F. ;  see  A*,  p.  90:  "car  je  ai 
grant  mestier  de  soudoiers." 

3335.  A  letter.  So  E  and  F;  but  A*,  p.  91:  ".i.  gros  jon  crues  dedanz," — 
with  which  Ar,  B,  and  D  are  in  accord.  According  to  D,  she  made  of  some 
rushes  a  karole  or  wreath,  which  reached  all  the  way  from  the  window  to  the 
ground. 

3339,  3340.    Elsewhere  only  in  F;  see  note  to  1.  1189. 

3347>  3348.  See  note  to  1.  3276. 

3349.  on  a  day.  According  to  A*,  p.  91,  eight  days  after  the  incident  of  the 
letter. 

3354.  A  litel  place  in  for  to  lig.  With  D*,  p.  45,  "  ung  pou  de  terre  .  .  .  pour 
faire  une  estable  a  ses  chevaulx." 

3377,  3378.  Mai  I  traist  on  ]?e,  For  to  tel  my  preuete,  i.e.,  "  May  I  trust 
you  so  much  as  to  justify  me  in  telling  to  you  my  secret  plans?"  F,  11.  1920- 
1921,  reads  with  absolute  clearness  :  "  '  Maystyr,'  he  seyde,  '  may  I  truste  to  j?e  To 
telle  >e  my  preuyte.'  " 

3379-  aghteld,  purposed.    See  N.E.D.  under  Ettle. 

3381.  J>at  he  sold  whatsom  he  wolde.  Other  instances  of  the  omission  of 
the  infinitive  after  an  auxiliary  are  cited  in  the  note  to  1.  699.  Here,  as  in  1.  699, 
R  expresses  the  infinitive.  Weber,  in  ignorance  of  R,  inserted  do  after  sold. 

3398.  ]?aire.    An   awkward   reference.     For  instances  of  imperfect   concord 
between  reference  word  and  antecedent,  see  note  to  J>aire,  1.  753. 

3399,  3400.  C  does  not  hold  to  the  O.  F.  here ;  according  to  A*,  p.  92,  it  was 
the  knight  who  now  rejoiced:  "Quant  li  cheualiers  o'i  ce,  si  fu  moult  liez."    Ar, 
B,  and  F  are  in  accord  with  A*. 

3426.  D*  omits  the  incident  of  the  ring. 

3433.  See  note  to  1.  988  for  other  instances  of  the  omission  of  the  relative 
pronoun  subject. 

3440.  saw  his  whiues  ring.  According  to  H  the  earl  first  saw  the  ring  on  the 
knight's  hand  one  day  while  the  two  were  together  on  a  hunt ;  see  p.  60 :  "  Cum 
vero  per  totum  diem  luderent,  ad  quandam  aquam  venerunt  et  ibi  sedebant. 
Miles  vero  iuxta  regem  incepit  dormire  habens  manum  extensam,  in  qua  erat 
anulus  in  digito,  quern  regina  ei  dedit.  Rex,  cum  anulum  vidisset,  statim  noticiam 
eius  habebat  et  ait  in  corde  suo  :  '  Iste  est  anulus  meus,  quem  in  signum  amoris 
regine  concessi.' " 

3443-3446.  An  amplification  peculiar  to  this  redaction. 


NOTES  183 

3488.  For  I  sal  seme  it  wonder  wele  =  A*,  p.  93:  "  je  le  garderai  moult  bien." 
The  only  other  MS.  to  preserve  this  detail  is  F.    See,  for  other  evidence  of  the 
nearness  of  F  to  C,  note  to  1.  1189. 

3489,  3490.  Dame,  he  sayd,  ...  A  sight  J>arof  J?at  I  might  se.   A  similar 
example  of  ellipsis  in  expression  of  a  wish  is  furnished  by  11.  4299-4300. 

3492.  Sir,  gladly  at  gowre  will.  A*,  p.  93 :  "  Sire,  dist  ele,  puisq'il  vous 
plest,  si  le  verroiz."  The  only  other  MS.  to  preserve  this  passage  is  B  (1.  3180). 

3497.  The  line  is  too  short ;  see  note  to  1.  84. 

3527.  es.  Probably  singular,  though  tifrandes  is  used  in  the  preceding  line  as 
a  plural.  For  es  with  plural  subject,  see  note  to  1.  2144. 

3538.  smeretly.    See  note  on  1.  394  for  two  other  instances  of  medial  curled  r. 

3558.  Gold.   Perhaps  to  be  read  as  a  dissyllable.    See  1.  3589  and  note  to  1.  222. 

3567,  3568.  was  .  .  .  Mete  and  drink.  Mete  and  drink  are  perhaps  thought  of 
as  a  unit  (see  note  to  1.  542). 

3576.  A  line  of  three  stresses  apparently.  See,  for  other  such  lines,  the  note 
to  1.  84. 

3589.  gold.    See  notes  to  11.  222  and  3558. 

3612.  f>ai  toke  vp  mete,  and  clathes  drogh.  A*,  p.  95  :  "  les  tables  furent 
ostee."  Other  M.  E.  MSS.  are  silent  here. 

3626.  was  gane  obowt.    That  is,  "  was  in  the  act  of  starting  to  go." 

3630.  Keped  him.  See  note  to  1.  988  for  other  instances  of  the  omission  of 
the  relative  pronoun. 

3669  f.  D  abridges  the  conclusion  to  the  story,  omitting  the  marriage  of  the 
lady  and  the  knight. 

3679  f.  The  style  here,  as  often,  is  exceedingly  broken  and  choppy. 

3687.  The  line  can  be  read  as  tetrameter  only  by  a  liberal  disregard  of  word 
and  sentence  accent.  The  emending  of  suoith  to  swithe  would  give  to  the  line  a 
perfect  rhythm. 

3692.  whare  his  godes  in  was.  Apparently  an  example  of  was  with  a  plural 
subject  (see  note  to  1.  542) ;  but  it  is  more  likely,  I  think,  that  godes  is  used  here 
as  a  singular,  though  the  N.  E.  D.  cites  no  example  earlier  than  the  sixteenth 
century. 

3718.  wex  sary.    With  D,  he  destroyed  himself  by  leaping  out  of  his  tower. 

3747>  3748.  "  For  she  well  knew  that  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  mooting 
(arguing,  disputing  about)  that  matter  any  further." 

3749,  3750.  For  other  examples  of  the  pleonastic  pronoun  subject,  see  note 
to  11.  i29f. 

3754.  Him  for  to  preche  .wald  sho  noght  prese.  This  I  take  to  mean,  "  She 
did  not  hasten  to  complain  to  him " ;  an  interpretation  which  derives  some  sup- 
port from  1.  3748. 

3765-3768.  So  A*,  p.  97 :  "  Quant  la  messe  fu  chantee,  il  s'asamblerent,  si 
s'aresterent  en  une  bele  place  devant  le  moustier."  None  of  the  rest  of  the  M.  E. 
MSS.  are  faithful  to  the  original  here. 

3776.  An  independent  addition  of  this  redaction. 

3779.  A*,  p.  97  :  "  La  noise  et  li  criz  fu  granz  que  Pen  n'i  o'ist  pas  Dieu  tenant." 


1 84  NOTES 

3798.  al  vnder.    This  may  mean:  "put  to  death"  (see  A*,  p.  98:  "et  mi 
mestre  tuit  .vii.  destruit ") ;  but  probably  means  merely :  "  brought  low,"  "  dis- 
graced" (see  1.  3800,  and  Ipomadon  (A),  11.  1428,  3681,  and  Minot,  II,  1.  18). 

3799.  for,  "  in  order  that." 

3800.  flemed.    Weber  erroneously  renders  :  "  flamed,  burnt." 
3805.  here  bi  west.    Peculiar  to  this  redaction.    See  note  to  1.  963. 

3819  f.  For  the  characteristic  features  of  the  different  versions  of  vaticinium, 
and  for  a  discussion  of  the  variants  and  analogues  of  the  story,  see  the  Introduc- 
tion, pp.  cxii  f. 

3821.  Other  instances  of  the  omitted  relative  pronoun  subject  are  pointed  out 
in  the  note  to  1.  988. 

3822.  fiften  winters.    So  also  E  and  B.    But  A*  reads  twelve  years  ;  F,  seven 
years ;    and  Ar,  four  years.    The  collocation  is  stereotyped ;    see  the  numerous 
instances  cited  by  R.  Fischer,  How  The  Wyse  Man  Taught  Hys  Sone,  Erlangen, 
1889,  PP-  51  f-»  and  Hall's  note  to  King  Horn,  L  and  0,  11.  17,  18. 

3823  f .  In  H  the  scene  of  this  episode  is  laid  at  the  house  of  the  father. 

3832.  In  an  yle.  So  also  D;  and  similarly  A*,  p.  98:  "por  aler  a  .i.  reclus 
qui  estoit  seur  .i.  rochier.  Other  M.  E.  MSS.  are  silent. 

3834.  Twa  rauenes.   D :  three  ravens ;  H :  a  nightingale." 

3882.  Foure  dales.  So  E,  B,  F,  and  K;  according  to  A*,  p.  99,  and  D*,  p.  48, 
three  days. 

3886-3892.  An  independent  addition.  The  redactor  of  cr  elaborated  more 
freely  in  vaticinium  than  in  any  other  story.  Other  passages  in  this  story  which 
find  nothing  corresponding  to  them  in  other  texts  are  11.  3896-3906,  3909-3922, 
3976-3982,  3997-4000,  4197-4202,  and  4289-4296. 

3923.  J?e  castele.  According  to  E,  B,  and  A*  (p.  99),  thirty  miles  distant  from 
the  island. 

3925.  said  ]?e  childe.  According  to  E,  for  twenty  pounds ;  according  to  A*, 
p.  99,  for  twenty  marks. 

3960,  3961.  wald  wend  ...  If.  The  context  indicates  that  this  should  be 
interpreted :  "  would  go  to  learn  if." 

3962.  The  line  is  noteworthy  for  its  cumbrous  succession  of  heavy  mono- 
syllables. 

3978.  puruay.  Here  used  apparently  with  the  meaning  either  of  collect  or 
of  come  together,  though  neither  the  Century  Diet.,  Stratmann,  nor  Skeat  gives 
either  meaning. 

3982.  takes.    See  note  to  1.  2146. 

4009-4012.  C  is  free  here ;  A*,  p.  100,  has  instead :  "se  li  oisel  ne  s'en  aloient, 
vous  n'en  seriez  ja  creuz." 

4050.  so  bifell.    Cf.  1.  975  :  "Bifel  }>us";  and  see  note  to  1.  68. 

4063,  4064.  Omitted  by  all  other  M.  E.  MSS.  except  F;  see  note  to  1.  1189. 

4105.  his.    R  has^z>,  a  better  reading. 

4133-4136.   Peculiar  to  this  redaction. 

4136.  His  fader  and  moder  was.  Other  examples  of  was  with  a  plural  or  a 
compound  subject  are  pointed  out  in  the  note  to  1.  542. 


NOTES  185 

J>e  town.  According  to  L,  K,  and  D  this  town  was  Plecie  (Plesseiz,  Plessis). 
According  to  A*,  p.  101,  the  town  was  somewhere  within  the  young  king's  realm, 
but  was  not  the  town  in  which  he  lived.  According  to  H  the  land  which  it  falls 
to  the  young  king  to  rule  over  is  Egypt. 

4145.  Gerard  Nories  son.  So  B,  1.  3572,  and  F,  1.  2461 ;  but  E,  1.  3458,  has 
"  Barnarde  Norysshe  sone."  A*  has  instead  "  Gerard  fils  de  Thierry." 

4195,  4196.  Here  again  this  text  is  nearer  to  the  O.  F.  than  are  the  other  M.  E. 
MSS.,  all  of  which  omit  this  detail;  see  A*,  p.  102  :  "son  pere  li  corut  &  1'estrier, 
car  ne  sot  pas  que  ce  fust  son  filz." 

4200.  J>ai  set  trestes  and  bordes  on  layd.  See  Rich.  Coer  de  Lion,  1.  102 
(ed.  Weber,  II,  p.  7) :  "  They  sette  tresteles  and  layde  a  borde."  Trestes  are  trestles 
or  large  stools ;  see  Century  Diet,  under  trest,  2.  Concerning  the  meal  table  in 
the  Middle  Ages,  see  Schultz,  Hof.  Leben,  I,  pp.  80,  432. 

4209.  and  held  it  vp.  According  to  A*,  p.  102,  the  son  would  not  allow  his 
father  to  do  this  service :  "  mes  li  rois  ne  le  vost  pas  soufrier." 

4228.  him  changed  hew.  Other  M.  E.  MSS.  are  silent;  A*,  p.  102:  "fu 
moult  esbahiz." 

4257.  I  had  leuer  haue  died.  A*,  p.  102,  with  greater  concreteness :  "mes  je 
ne  le  feisse,  an^ois  me  lessasse  desmembrer." 

4267,  4271  f.  Similarly  A*,  pp.  102-103:  "por  ce  que  je  doutoie  et  avoie  paour 
qu'il  ne  vous  destruisist,  et  qu'il  ne  vous  tolist  1'empire."  B  is  the  only  other  M.  E. 
MS. -to  reflect  the  O.  F.  so  faithfully.  According  to  E  the  Empress  was  afraid 
the  Prince  would  put  her  to  death ;  according  to  F,  that  he  would  destroy  both 
her  and  the  Emperor. 

4283.  gaudes.  Weber  erroneously  reads  gandes,  and  renders:  "wiles,  mis- 
chievous designs." 

4291.  wath,  harm,  danger.  See  Cursor  Mundi,  1.  871  ;  Pricke  of  Conscience, 
1.  4558 ;  and  Gawayne  and  Green  Knight,  1.  2355. 

4299,  4300.  See  note  to  11.  3489-3490. 

4303.  or  none,  "  before  noon."  The  regular  Northern  form  for  Mod.  English 
none  is  nane. 

4325  f.  E,  which  is  elsewhere  very  conservative,  ventures  here  an  addition  of 
some  thirty  lines  (3561-3588),  as  follows: 

And  whenne  that  hys  fadyr  dede  was, 
He  lete  make  a  nobylle  plas, 
And  a  fayre  abbeye  he  lete  begynne, 
And  seuyn  schore  monkys  brought  there-yn, 
And  euyr  more  to  rede  and  synge 
For  hys  fadyr,  wzt/z-owte  lesynge. 
And  tho  was  the  chylde  made  Empmmre, 
And  kept  hys  londe  viiik  grete  honoure ; 
Of  al  knyghtys  he  bare  the  prys, 
And  a-monge  alle  men  moste  wys. 
And  moste  he  louyde  stedefastenys, 
In  worde  and  dede,  more  and  les ; 
And  therefore  God  gaffe  hym  goode  lyf, 
And  brought  hym  fayre  owte  of  stryf. 


186  NOTES 


Nowe  haue  ye  hyrde,  euery  man, 
Of  the  Emperoure  Deoclycyan, 
And  allso  of  hys  fals  wyfe, 
And  howe  the  chylde  come  owte  of  stryffe  •, 
And  of  the  maysters  ye  haue  hyrde, 
The  wysyste  men  of  alle  myddelle-hyrthe, 
How  they  sauyde  the  chylde  so  yonge 
Thorowe  hyr  wysdome  and  hyr  connynge. 
And  nowe  ben  dede  the  Maysters  Seuyn. 
Ih^jus,  that  ys  Kyng  of  Heuyn, 
Graunte  us  er  we  hens  wende 
Houselle  and  shryfte  and  goode  ende, 
The  blysse  of  Heuyn  aboue, 
Ihesu  for  his  modyr  loue. 


GLOSSARY 


GLOSSARY 


a,  adj.,  one,  329,  2038,  3199,  3347,  3550, 
etc.;  o,  2964;  an,  714,  79°'  Io6r  5 
ane,  197,  1210,  1213,  1248,  1320,  etc.; 
one,  3558  ;  vntil  ane,  unanimously, 
416;  euer  in  one,  constantly,  471. 
See  tane. 

aby,  v.,  pay  for,  736,  1484,  4288. 

adred,  pp.,  frightened,  afraid,  502,  1423, 
2323,  4030. 

affray,  v.,  attack,  2214. 

aght,  sb.,  aught,  anything,  798  ;  Oght, 
2153,  3404. 

aght,  adj.,  eight,  2136. 

aght,  adj.,  eighth,  (headings)  pp.  63 
and  64. 

aght,  v.,pt.  ind.,  possessed,  3270;  ought, 

2143- 

aghteld,  pp.,  purposed,  3379.    See  note. 
aij?er,  adj.,  each,  either,  3108. 
ai]?er,/?wz.,  each,  either,  1850  ;  ayther, 

2229,  3418. 
alegance,  sb.,  alleviation,  relief,   1267. 

See  note, 
algates,  adv.,  in  any  case,   2792.    See 

sogat  and  Jmsgat. 
al  if,  conj.,  even  if,  745,  1017. 
alkins,  adj.,  of  every  kind,  1226,  3467, 

4153  ;  alkin,  463.    See  nakins,  nane- 

kins,  and  whatkin. 
aller,  adj.,  of  all,  2326,  3155.  See  alj»er- 

maste. 
als,  conj.,  as,  78,  122,  etc.;  as  if,  527, 

532,  etc. 
als,  adv.,  also,  30,  70,  etc. ;  alswa,  101, 

808,  etc. ;  also,  55,  373,  etc. 
alsone,  adv.,  as  soon,   3339 ;  immedi- 
ately, 569, 1614, 2059,  3173;  als  sone, 

518,  561,  1268,  4257. 


alswa,  see  als. 

alswith,  adv.,  immediately,  2510;  als 

swith,  3172. 
alpermaste,    adj.,   most    of    all,   very 

great,  3886.    See  aller. 
and,   conj.,  if,  558,  1090,  1163,   1800, 

3040,  3077. 

anes,  adv.,  once,  1675,  1786. 
anly,  adj.,  solitary,  261  ;  anely,  1894. 
Anxilles,  66,  1060,  (heading)  p.  38. 
are,  adv.,  formerly,  before,  795,  1469, 

1626,  2076,  2334,  4038  ;  sooner,  1377, 

2777,  3°23>  4253- 
Ars  Metrike,  sb.,  arithmetic,  191.    See 

note. 

aseth,  sb.,  reparation,  382. 
at,  prep.,  to,  124,  174,  790,  2122,  2171, 

3086,  3343,  3518. 
at,  conj.,  that,  1413,  1750,  4150. 
auenant,  adj.,  graceful,  comely,  n. 
auere,  sb.,  possessions,  2413. 
Auerell,  sb.,  April,  1168. 
avoy,  inter/.,  an  exclamation  of  remon- 

strance, 2342. 
awin,  adj.,  own,  284,  1414,  1646  ;  awyn, 

3600,  3619;  owin,  953,  1496,  1757, 


189 


ayre,  sb.,  heir,  30,  333,  374,  2345  (MS. 
are  ;  see  note)  ;  aire,  2844. 

ban,    v.,    curse,    anathematize,    1077  ; 

banned,  pt.  ind.,  2374. 
Bancillas,  53;  Bausillas,  457,  713,  727, 

743»  937>  (heading)  p.  26  ;  Bawsillas, 

773- 
bare,  sb.,  boar,  958,  960,  965,  972,  982, 

etc. 
bareheuid,  adj.,  bareheaded,  238. 


190 


GLOSSARY 


barm,  sb.,  lap,  1974,  1988. 
barnage,  sb.,  barons,  273,  582,  3949. 
barnes,  sb.,  children,  bairns,  291,  4276. 
bate,  v.,  3  sg.  pt.  ind.,  bit,  stung,  825, 

839. 

be,  v.,  be,  1 16, 1 27,  etc. ;  bene,  1 1 50, 1 284 ; 
am,  i  sg.  pres.  ind.,  243,  352,  etc. ; 
ert,  2  sg.,  503,  1 02 1,  etc.;  bese,  1289  ; 
es,  3  sg.,  50,  1 06,  156,  165,  178,  etc. ; 
bese,  692  ;  ett  plu.  pres.  ind.,  43,  363, 
447,  728,850,  1 212,  etc. ;  ere,  2211  (see 
note);  es,  2144  (see  note);  be,  sg. 
imper.,  1688,  1925;  bese,  plu.  imper., 
4232;  be,  pres.  subj.,  133,  1651,  3921; 
was,  sg.pt.  ind.,  6,  8,  12,  15,  18,  etc. ; 
wase,  282,  1259;  vfaiyplu.pt.  ind., 
34,  37,  161,  187,  218,  etc.;  ware,  44, 
971;  was,  542  (?),  etc.  (see  note);  war, 
//.  subj.,  527, 698,  744,  763,  etc.;  ware, 
109,  306,  855,  941,  1017,  etc.;  wer, 
532;  were,  123;  bene,//.,  677,  861, 
1574,  etc.;  ben,  3672. 

bed-fere,  sb.,  bedfellow,  595. 

belamy,  sb.,  good  friend,  644. 

benisown,  sb.,  blessing,  benediction, 
1383;  benzown,  3811. 

bere,  sb.,  bier,  2826. 

besant,  sb.,  a  gold  coin,  2591,  2745; 
besand,  2600,  2656.  \ 

bidene,  adv.,  immediately,  1405,  1687, 
!755>  2671  ;  (an  expletive)  231. 

biforn,  prep.,  before,  706,  764 ;  byforn, 
1112. 

big,  v.,  build,  3353,  3359. 

biliue,  adv.,  quickly,  655,  1041,  1412, 
J459»  T935>  3OI3!  bilyue,  652,  707, 
*779»  T798>  3449>  3772 ;  byliue,  3685. 

bishrewed,  //.,  ill  used,  abused,  678. 

biswikes,  v.,  3  plu.  pres.  ind.,  deceive, 
2748. 

bitake,  v.,  2  sg.  imper.,  give,  135 ; 
bitoke,  3  sg.  pt.  ind.,  733.  See  tak. 

biteche,  v.,  i  sg.  pres.  ind.,  commit, 
consign,  738. 

blayke,  adj.,  light,  yellow,  121.  See  note. 


blyn,  v.,  desist  from,  3290. 

boght,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  redeemed,  paid  for, 
2901,  2907;  //.,  546. 

bolnyng,  sb.,  swelling,  1696. 

bord,  sb.,  table,  3550,  3569 ;  borde,  327 ; 
burd,  2023;  bordes,  boards,  planks, 
4200. 

borow,  v.,  deliver,  set  free,  1859,  2781  ; 
borowd,//.,  2133. 

boste,  sb,,  noise,  3127. 

bot,  conj.,  if  not,  1446. 

bot  if,  conj.,  unless,  466,  567,  875,  955, 
1082,  1160,  1258. 

bote,  sb.,  profit,  advantage,  improve- 
ment, 1159,  1707,  2845,  3747- 

boun,  adj.,  ready,  prepared,  1686,  2377  ; 
bowne,  459 ;  starting,  on  the  way, 
bound,  655,  1095,  2894,  3767;  deter- 
mined, 1043. 

bourdice,  sb.,  tournament,  806,  847  ; 
bowrdice,  777. 

bourding,  sb.,  jesting,  24. 

bowsumly,  adv.,  humbly,  respectfully, 

3785. 

boyes,  sb.,  executioners,  hangmen,  2377. 
brast,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  burst,  1048,  2082. 
brayd,  v.,  draw,  3125. 
brede,  sb.,  food,  1522. 
brede,  sb.,  breadth,  width  ;   on  brede, 

over  a  wide  surface,  legibly,  2177. 
bren,  v.,  burn,  585  ;  brin,  2892 ;  brined, 

pt.  ind.,    2165;    brinand,  pres.  ptc., 

2457,  2827,  43H;  brend,  pp.,  2321, 

4253,4302;  brent,  2133. 
brid,  sb.,  bird,  2520. 
brin,  see  bren. 
bro,  sb.,  broth,  1184,  1189. 
burd,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  it   behooved,  2798. 

See  note, 
burias,  sb.,  burgess,  632,  652,  657,  669, 

679,  etc.;  buriase,  plu.,  1036;  buri- 

ayse,  3151;  burgas,  2517;  burgase, 

643 ;  burgays,  2266. 
bus,   v.,  3  sg.  pres.  ind.,  it  behooves, 

1146,  1181,  3476. 


GLOSSARY 


buskes,  sb.,   clumps,  grassy  or  bushy 

clods,  tufts  of  sod,  992.    See  note, 
by,  prep,  (used  as  con/.),  by  the  time 

that,  845  ;  bi,  2083. 

by,  v.,  pay  for,  atone  for,  912.    See  aby. 
byde,  v.,  wait,  remain,  2629,  3190,  3421 ; 

bide,  3140,  3642;  await,  bede,  3130. 
byfore,  adv.,   beforehand,  in   advance 

of,  1273. 

byforn,  prep.,  before,  33. 
byhoue^  sb.,  advantage,  2753. 
bymenes,  v.,  jt  sg.  pres.  ind.,  means, 

signifies,  2732. 

cache,  sb.,  cage,  2465  ;  cage,  2454, 4015 ; 
kage,  2420,  2500. 

cache,  v.,  chase,  1748. 

Calaber,  1691. 

can,  see  kun. 

care,  sb.,  grief,  suffering,  worry,  314, 
718,  1425,  1912,  2094,  2838,  3591. 

carpand,  pres.  ptc.,  conversing,  538. 

carping,  sb.,  conversation,  2551. 

case,  sb.,  happening,  affair,  chance,  17, 
26,  242,  254,  281,  440,  574,  728,  etc. ; 
cas,  872,  938. 

catele,  sb.,  property,  1742. 

Caton,  417,  460;  Catonn,  2410,  (head- 
ing) p.  82,  2411 ;  Catoun,  105,  400; 
Catown,  2378. 

cautelus,  adj.,  crafty,  3098. 

chafare,  sb.,  chaffer,  business,  633. 

chance,  sb.,  mischance,  misfortune,  956, 
1968,  2801,  3211. 

chasty,  v.,  chastise,  2063. 

chere,  sb.,  face,  78,  2414,  3106;  expres- 
sion of  face,  look,  143,  515,  596, 1838, 
2036,  etc. ;  mood,  state  of  mind, 
2577>  3°6l>  3463,  3464,  3594,  etc. 

childer,  sb.,  children,  264,  342,  1420, 
1423,  1511,  etc. 

clere,  adj.,  famous,  glorious,  105,  212; 
clear,  bright,  2230,  3109. 

clergy,  sb.,  learning,  46,  62,  84,  138, 
2379;  (?)  clergy,  clergi,  2161. 


clerk,  sb.,  a  learned  man,  1102,  1327, 
2267,  etc. ;  clerkes,  166,  2222,  2227, 
etc.;  klerkes,  1319. 

clething,  sb.,  clothing,  1046. 

close,  sb.,  a  closed  place,  an  enclosure, 
2908. 

Clowes,  -v.,  3  sg:  pres.  ind.,  scratches, 
1008;  clowed,  //.  ind.,  1011. 

clowing,  sb.,  scratching,  958. 

contrariouse,  adj.,  repugnant,  distaste- 
ful, 1182;  contrarius,  1182. 

couenant,  sb.,  covenant,  agreement,  301, 
4118;  couenand,  4008;  cownand, 
2974. 

cownand,  see  couenant. 

crakes,  sb.,  ravens,  3858,  4219. 

Cressent,  2147,  2152.  See  note  to 
1.  2147. 

crop,  sb.,  top,  highest  part,  1160,  2327. 

cunand,  adj.,  wise,  cunning,  336 ;  kun- 
and,  46. 

cunuayd,  //.,  conducted,  accompanied, 

37". 
curfu,   sb.,   curfew,    1530,    1568,   1614, 

1623;  curfoure,  1618. 
currurs,  sb.,  messengers,  couriers,  353. 

dampned,  pp.,  condemned,  2866. 

dang,  see  dyng. 

ded,  sb.,  deed's,  1496. 

ded,  sb.,  death,  711,  741,954, 1024, 1165, 

etc.;  dede,  312,  1500,  1862,  2103, etc. 
ded,  adj.,  dead,  674,  675,  679,  684,  702, 

etc. ;  dede,  672. 
defoul,  v.,  violate,  force,  2396. 
degh,  v.,  die,  1165;  dy,  308,  429,  936, 

etc. 

delt,  v.,pt.  ind.,  distributed,  2829. 
delued,  v.,  pt.  ind.,   dug,  2259,  2725 ; 

buried,  2238. 

deme,  v.,  judge,  3042,  4083. 
departed,  pp.,  separated,  parted,  1284. 
desterer,  sb.,  war-horse,  493. 
dight,  see  dyght. 
dike,  sb.,  ditch,  1354,  1358. 


192 


GLOSSARY 


Dinise,  Saint,  1783. 

dited,  see  dyght. 

do,  v.,  perform,  364,  395,  etc. ;  done, 
442,  472,  etc. ;  dose,  2  sg.  pres.  ind., 
1029,  1605;  3  sg.  pres.  ind.,  1914; 
3  plu.  pres.  ind.,  3203  ;  did,  //.  ind., 
545,  696,  etc.;  done,  pp.,  378,  413, 
etc.  ;  put,  1046;  dose,  2  sg.  pres.  ind., 
1862;  did,//,  ind.,  1318,  1755,  etc.; 
done,//.,  562,  741,  etc. ;  make,  cause, 
dose,  j  sg.J>res.  ind.,  1904;  do,  2  sg. 
pres.  subj.,  1493 »  2  SS-  imper.,  764. 

dome,  sb.,  judgment,  decree,  28,  103, 
275,  1203,  2134,  etc.;  doom,  fate, 
2790. 

domes-men,  sb.,  judges,  1534,  1640. 

done,  adv.,  see  down. 

dosele,  sb.,  plug,  1244;  dosels,  1246. 

dote,  v.,  be  silly,  act  foolishly,  1904. 

down,  adv.,  down,  999,  1005,  etc.; 
downe,  1293;  doun,  454,  501,  etc.; 
done,  685. 

dowt,  sb.,  fear,  3012,  3073;  dout, 
2494. 

drewri,  sb.,  amour,  sexual  love,  1175. 

dried,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  dried  up,  666. 

drogh,  v.,pt.  ind.,  drew,  844,  1015,  2170, 
2989;  drew  off,  removed,  3612. 

dub,  v.,  fit  out,  decorate,  3103;  dubed, 

PP-*  3559- 
dyght,  v.,  prepare,  make  ready,  493; 

dight,  pt.  ind.,  2311  ;   dyght,  3046; 

dyght,//.,  3567  ;  fit  out,  dress,  dight, 

pt.  ind.,  3543,  3659 ;  dighted,  3620 ; 

//.,  dight,  2364;  dyght,  3559,  3760, 

3775;  smooth  over,  dress,  dited,//. 

ind.,  1342 ;  destine,  condemn,  dight, 

//.  ind.,  19;  //.,  711,  2122;  dyght, 

2777. 
dyng,  v.,  beat,  3180;  dang,  3  plu.  pt. 

ind.,  2459. 
Dyoclician,  6. 

ee,  see  eghe. 

eft,  adv.,  again,  1352. 


eghe,  sb.,  eye,  3214;  ee,  3268;  eghen, 

plu.,  122,  2331,  2720,  2722,  2750,  etc.; 

yen,  1013. 

eld,  sb.,  age,  68,  1889;  elde,  4273. 
els,  adv.,  else,  otherwise,  231,  244,  245, 

585,  etc. ;  quasi-conj.,  provided  that, 

2294  (see  note). 

erne,  sb.,  uncle,  1222;  ernes,  1113. 
encheson,  sb.,  reason,  cause,  324,  646, 

1255,2690,3951. 

ender,  adj.,  other,  recently  past,  1689. 
entent,   sb.,   heed,  attention,  41,   397, 

2593»  3982. 
ertow,  art  thou,  949,  3219;  ertou,  2916, 

2917. 
etc,  v.,  eat,  1181,  1184,  1187,  3531 ;  et, 

355°>  357o;  ett,   2038,   2861,  3566, 

3580;  ette,  3922;  ett,  3  plu. pres.  ind., 

2026 ;  etc,  //.  ind.,  200,  3882 ;  etin, 

//.,  874,  2048;  etyn,  3611. 
euerilkane,  pron.,  each  one,  every  one, 

252,  1239,  2762,  2867,  3763,  4036. 

f ageing,  sb.,  feigning,  514. 

falles,  v.,  3  sg.  pres.  ind.,  pertains,  100. 

fame,  sb.,  foam,  993. 

fand,  v.,  try;  fandes,  (?)  2 plu.  imper., 

264  (see  note) ;  fanded,  pt.  ind.,  829. 
fare,  sb.,  faring,  condition,  4151 ;  con- 
duct, 4045. 
fare,  v.,  go,  717;  2  sg.  imper.,  1565; 

behave,  fares,  3  sg.  pres.  ind.,  2119; 

3  plu.  pres.  ind.,  3310. 
fe,  sb.,  property,  1508,  1812. 
fele,  adj.,  many,  162,  1122,  1214,  1243, 

1650. 

feled, //.,  hidden,  2270. 
fell,  adj.,  cruel,    ruthless,    1918,   2110, 

3067  ;  fel,  931. 

felly,  adv.,  cruelly,  2497.    See  fell, 
fen,  sb.,  filth,  1439. 
fer,  adj.,  far,  remote,  2245,  3371,  3552  ; 

fere,  2648. 
fer,  adv.,   far,  211,    1392,    1986,    2957, 

3263;  ferr,  1513. 


GLOSSARY 


193 


ferd,  sb.,  fear,  2438 ;  fered,  3404  ;  ferid, 

2460. 
ferd,  //.,  frightened,  afraid,  996,  4228; 

fered,  2998  (see  note). 
ferdnes,  sb.,  fear,  968. 
fere,  sb.,  companion,  1565,  4064. 
fere,  sb.,  company;  in  fere,  together, 

148,  1063,  1420,  3684,  3830,  4231. 
fere,  adj.,  well,  1706. 
fere,  v.,  fare,  get  alqng;  feres,  2  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  2485;  ferd,//.  ind.,  1553, 

1625,  2484. 
ferly,  sb.,  strange  thing,  667, 1625,  3940 ; 

ferlik,  896 ;  ferlies,  plu.,  404. 
ferly,  adj.,  strange,  wondrous,  26,  242, 

254,  281,  440,  etc. 
ferly,  adv.,  strangely,  wondrously,  987, 

2482. 

ferm,  sb.,  revenue,  2876. 
ferth,  adj.,  fourth,  87,  209,  (headings) 

pp.  35  and  38,  2117  ;  firth,  1270. 
fest,  v.,pt.  ind.,  fastened,  3124. 
fet,  v.,  fetch,  pt.  ind.,  1458 ;  //.,  1639, 

2407  ;  fett,  386. 

fetyce,  adj.,  handsome,  well-made,  2818. 
filde,  pp.,  soiled,  denied,  838. 
firth,  see  ferth. 
fitz,  sb.,  son,  1791. 
flayed,//.,  put  to  flight,  2219. 
fleghe,   v.,   fly,    4061  ;    flow,  pt.    ind., 

4111. 
fleme,    v.,    banish,   drive   away,    1803; 

flemed,//.  ind.,  2535  ;  //.,  1818,  3800. 
flet,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  swam,  3866. 
Siting,  sb.,  quarreling,  2644. 
Florentine,   25,  370,  418,    502,  4240 ; 

Floreentine,  394  ;  Florentyne,  2376. 
florins,    sb.,  gold  coins,  florins,   1794; 

florines,  1122. 
flow,  see  fleghe. 

flyng,  v.,  throw  or  strike  violently,  830. 
fone,  sb.,  few,  987. 

forby,  prep.,  in  comparison  with,  988. 
forcer,  sb.,  coffer,  2237,  2260 ;  forcere, 

2229 ;  forceoure,  2269. 


forfare,  v.,  go  to  destruction,  be  killed, 

1493,  2931- 

forheuyd,  sb.,  forehead,  2993. 
forlayn,  //.,  lain  with  unlawfully,  739  ; 

forlayne,  1792. 
forlorn,  //.,  lost,  763. 
forord,//.,  lined  with  fur,  1984. 
forors,  sb.,  furs,  529. 
forthoght,  v.,pt.  ind.,  regretted,  1999, 

2522. 
forpi,   adv.,  for  that  reason,  on  that 

account,   therefore,   45,    1116,    1977, 

2092,   3274  ;    forthi,    1081  ;   forthy, 


fourtenyght,  sb.,  fortnight,  2633. 

ill,  prep.,  from,  120,  176,  306,  329,  436, 

etc.  (57  times)  ;  fro,  487,  1748,  2957, 

4061. 

Franche,  sb.,  French,  3338. 
Frankis,  adj.,  French,  2419. 
frayn,  v.,  ask,  759. 
fre,  adj.,  noble,  933,  2151,  3455,  3820, 

4254- 

frely,  adj.,  excellent,  gracious,  3903. 
freres,  sb.,  friars,  2828. 
fyne,  sb.,  end,  725. 

ga,  v.,  go,  354,  700,  807,  918,  1538,  etc.  ; 

go,  14,  1158,  1758,  2549;  gan,  2834; 

gane,  1123,  1209,  3406  ;  gase,  3  sg. 

pres.    ind.,    1346,    1809,    2554,   3430, 

3508,  etc.  ;  go,  2  sg.  imper.,  644  ;  gose, 

2  plu.  imper.,  2706  ;  gane,  //.,  251, 

477,  486,  827,  1033,  etc.;  sede,  //. 

ind.,  1476,  1887,  3879  ;  gode,  2424. 
gabing,  sb.,  lying,  1  148. 
gadlinges,  sb.,  low  fellows,  2340. 
gain,  v.,  avail,  profit,  525. 
gamen,  sb.,  sport,  320;  gamin,  1553; 

gamyn,  808,  1896;  gamyns,  sorts  of 

sport,  388. 
gan,  v.,  3  sg.  pt.  ind.  of  gin,  did  (auxil- 

iary), 260,  392,  418,  484,  490,  etc. 
gang,  v.,  go,  1278,   1752,  2093,  3°39» 

3788,  4294. 


194 


GLOSSARY 


gang,  sb.,  a  privy,  1393,  1439,  1446. 

gare,  sb.,  clothes,  2415.    See  note. 

gate,  sb.,  way,  street,  1597,  2257. 

gaudes,  sb.,  tricks,  525,  4283. 

gent,  adj.,  well-born,  elegant,  274,  406, 
2002,  3616. 

gentil,  adj.,  worthy,  noble,  56,  270. 

Genus,  3097,  3149. 

ger,  «/.,  cause,  412,  454,  568,  585,  1151, 
etc. ;  ger,  2  sg.  imper.,  554,  565  ;  gers, 
2  plu.  imper.,  556 ;  gert,  //.  ind.,  33, 

493>  7°6»  9l6»  I039>  etc- 
Gerard  Nories,  4145. 
gere,  sb.,  garments,  accouterments,  916, 

917,  3120;  property,  3648. 
geste,  sb.,  story,  3057. 
gif  .  .  .  ill,  see  ill. 
gilowre,  sb.,  deceiver,  4280. 
gilri,  sb.,  guile,  fraud,  stratagem,  trick, 

2146;    gillri,    2449;     gilry,     2528, 

4283. 

glose,  v.,  deceive,  flatter,  2343. 
gode,  sb.,  goods,  property,  1524,  3647; 

gude,  1620;  godes,  3692. 
godote,  inter/.,  God  knows,   in   truth, 

667. 
grace,  sb.,  favor,  744,  1452,  1482,  1913, 

2398,  etc. ;  to  safe  soure  grace,  may 

it  please  you,  744;   to  saue  sowre 

grace,  2398. 

graith,  adj.,  ready,  3996.    See  graythly. 
gramercy,  interj.,    many   thanks,   350, 

464,  3234,  3414,  3700. 
graue,  v.,  bury,  1460 ;  groue,  3  plu.  pt. 

ind.,  2233;  grauen, //.,  18,  2831. 
grayd,  v.,pt.  ind.,  prepared,  made  ready, 

2031,  2675;  //•»  4I99- 
graythly,    adv.,    quickly,   3430,    3494, 

3508 ;  graithly,  3888.    See  graith. 
gret,  v.,pt.  ind.,  wept,  2074,  2914. 
grome,  sb.,  lad,  916,  1204. 
groue,  see  graue. 

grouelyng,  adv.,  face  downward,  836. 
grundes,  sb.,  foundations,  2300. 
gryse,  sb.,  young  pig,  966. 


gude,  sb.,  see  gode. 

gyn,  sb.,  artifice,  2019,  2308,  3055,  3345; 
gin,  3367- 

sare,  adj.,  ready,  1839. 

Sate,  sb.,  gate,  719,  1598,  2234,  2239, 

2258,  etc.;  gates,  1035,  J595»  2365, 

3074,  3141. 
Sede,  see  ga. 
gerne,  v.,  care  for,  protect,  789,  3082, 

3488;  semed,//.  ind.,  976,  3087,  3799, 

4°59- 
Sing,  adj.,   young,    1676,    1897,    2846, 

4082;   song,   671,   682,   etc.;   sung, 

370 ;  songer,  comp.,  2267,  4056,  etc. 
Sit,  adv.,  yet,  thus  far,  still,  44,  1784, 

2047,  2051,  3010,  3479,  3633,  3780;  in 

addition,  2196,  3851,  4271. 
Sit,  conj.,  yet,  nevertheless,  1516,  1544, 

3169. 

SOde,  see  ga. 
50ne,  adj.,  yon,  424. 

hag,  v.,  hack,  cut,  658  ;  haged,  pt.  ind., 

660 ;  hagged,  656. 
hailsed,  v.,pt.  ind.,  greeted,  saluted,  40, 

237.  723>  2389,  3194,  3376,  4162. 
hak,  sb.,  pick,  mattock,  1333;  hakkes, 

plu.,  2674. 

hak,  v.,  hack,  chop,  653. 
hale,  adj.,  hale,  well,  907,  1706,  4188; 

whole,  uninjured,  2292;  entire,  1099. 
halely,  adv.,  wholly,  entirely,  461,  1692  ; 

hally,  1926. 

hals,  sb.,  neck,  513,  2987. 
hamely,  adv.,  familiarly,  3554. 
hand-haueing,  pres.  ptc.,  "  having  [the 

thing  stolen]    in  hand,"  in  the  act, 

749  (see  note),  1563. 
hardily,  adv.,  boldly,    140,  935,  1449, 

1721,  1978,  2833,  3071,  3605. 
harrow,    interj.,    a    cry    of    distress, 

536. 

hastif,  adj.,  hasty,  931 ;  hastife,  2540. 
hat,  see  hight. 


GLOSSARY 


195 


haue,  v.,  have,  51,  174,  etc. ;  i  sg.  pres. 

ind.,  684,  700,  etc. ;  has,  2  sg.  pres. 

ind.,   1574,  2091,  etc.;    haues,  3  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  676,  1277,  etc.;  has,  548, 

1736;  hase,  2623;  haue,  phi.  pres. 

ind.,  265,  329,  etc. ;  has,  2648  ;  haue, 

pres.  subj.,  3,  45,  etc. ;  had,  pt.  ind., 

9,  13,  etc. 
hee,  adj.,  high,  3267  ;  high,  985,  2393, 

2788;  hy,  3195;  higher,  camp.,  247; 

heghest,  sttperl.,  3984;  in  hy,  in  a 

loud  voice,  2320,  2915  ;  on  high,  1486. 
heght,  sb. ;   on  heght,  on  high,  aloft, 

2527  ;  on  hight,  226,  3121 ;  on  heght, 

aloud,  144. 

hend,  sb.,  hands,  2825. 
hende,  adj.,  courteous,   gracious,  489, 

499,  504,  1963,  2400,  3519,  4240. 
hendly,  adv.,  courteously,  237. 
hent,  v.,  seize ;  hentes,  3  sg.  pres.  ind., 

83!>  J338»  3863;  hent,//.  ind.,  849, 

1760,  2205;//.,  2869>  3459- 
herber,  sb.,  a  plot  of  ground  covered 

with  grass,  a  place  of  entertainment, 

628  (j^note),  1931. 
hernays,  sb.,  armor,  3252  ;   hernayse, 

849. 

Herod,  2572,  2581,  2773. 
hete,  see  hight. 
hethin,  adv.,  hence,  2274,  2943  ;  he]?en, 

1887. 

hething,  -sb.,  shame,  ground  for  con- 
tempt, 91. 
heuid,  sb.,  head,  120,  1301,  1375,  1381, 

1384,  etc.;  heuyd,  3006 ;  heued,  3123 ; 

hed,  3559. 

heuy,  adj.,  mournful,  515. 
hight,  sb.,  see  heght. 
hight,  v.,  be  called  ;  hat,  /  sg.pres.  ind., 

2654;  hight,  3  sg:  pt.  ind.,  80,  1102, 

1847, 3097  ;//-,  2160 ;  promise,  hyght, 

i  sg.pres.  ind.,  140;  hete,  /  sg.  pres. 

ind.,  701,  935, 1449,  2779  \2sg-  imper., 

1721  ;  hight,//.  *«</.,  461,3191,  4026; 

//•>  i736>  X744»  4005  ;  hyght,  4023. 


hing,  v.,  hang,  1052,  1931,  42o8;hyng, 

2788;  hang,  707,  1050;  hinges,  3  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  1007. 

hird,  sb.,  shepherd,  976,  983,  989,  1014. 
hirdman,  sb.,  shepherd,  996,  1003, 1018. 
hode,  sb.,  hood,  238,  981,  998. 
honest,  adj.,  worthy, -2022. 
hoped,  v.,pt.  ind.,  thought,  2428,  2632, 

3138;  hopid,   1549,  3499;  expected, 

hopid,  820,  2954;  hoped,//.,  1326. 
horde,  sb.,  hoard,  3461  ;  hurd,  2668. 
hore-maister,  sb.,  paramour,  2435,  2452, 

2472. 
horkop,  sb.,  child  begotten  in  adultery, 

1201. 

houed,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  hovered  about,  3836. 
hundereth,  adj.,  hundred,  350. 
Hungery,  1118,  3236,  3514;  Hungeri, 

3264. 

hurd,  see  horde, 
hy,   sb.,   haste,    163,  851,    1223,    1955, 

3375'   4173;    hi>    'SS1'   2527>   2657, 

3563- 
hy,  v.,  hasten,  540 ;  hies,  3  sg.pres.  ind., 

1066,  1602,  etc.;  hied,//,  ind.,  721, 

1343,  etc. 
hy,  adj.,  see  hee. 

lame,  Saint,  1961,  2968. 

lenuere,  sb.,  January,  3099. 

lesse,  119,  (heading)  p.  96. 

Ihesus,  2973;  Ihesu,  933,  1084,  1306, 

1567,  3030,  etc. 

ilk,  adj.,  same,  1177,  2801,  3230,  3549. 
ilk,  adj.,  each,  every,  1188,  1313,  1359, 

2210,  2797,  etc. 
ilka,  adj.,  each,  every,  221,  328,  438, 

450,  785,  etc. 
ilkane,  pron.,  each  one,  118,  223,  266, 

415,  478,  etc.;  ilkone,  3110. 
ill,    sb.\     gif  .  .   .  ill,    grieve,    3884; 

gaf  .  .  .  ill,  2914. 

in  pat,  adv.  phrase,  meantime,  982. 
intil,  prep.,  into,  2433. 
inwith,  prep.,  within,  126. 


196 


GLOSSARY 


lohn,  Saint,  1717,  2939. 

iolif,  adj.,  merry,  2187. 

iornay,  see  iurne. 

iubarb,   sb.,   the   houseleek,    218.     See 

note. 
iuiement,  sb.,  judgment,   2134;  iuge- 

ment,  2870,  4308. 
iurne,  sb.,  journey,  2227;  iornay,  2211, 

3255 ;  labor,  4322. 
iust,  v.,  joust,  802. 
iwis,  adv.,  truly,  2724. 

kage,  see  cache. 

karped,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  called,  spoke,  107. 

kaytef,  adj.,  mean,  despicable,  1345. 

ken,  v.,  teach,  tell,  913  ;  kend,  pt.  ind., 
1139;  recognize,  1403;  know,  922, 
3080,  3468 ;  kend,  pt.  ind.,  3341. 

kenyng,  sb.,  recognition,  3561. 

kepe,  sb.,  heed,  199,  1014,  1421. 

kepe,  v.,  care  for,  guard,  1324,  2872, 
2877,  2883,  3°86;  keped,  //.  ind., 
1325,  1340;  receive,  entertain,  4154; 
keped,  //.  ind.,  494,  3564,  3630. 

kindest,  adj.,  most  natural,  most  right- 
ful, 374.  See  vnkind. 

kirk-gerd,  sb.,  churchyard,  cemetery, 
2893. 

kith,  v.,  2  sg.  imper.,  make  known,  1474. 

knaue,  sb.,  boy,  1072;  servant,  692; 
used  as  adj.,  knaue  child,  male  child, 

'5- 
knaw,  v.,  know,  i  sg.  pres.  ind.,  no, 

1718  ;  i  plu.  pres.  ind.,  2515  ;  knew, 

pt.  ind.,  3249,  3556,  etc. ;   knawen, 

pp.,  2161,3924;  recognize,  1386, 1402, 

etc. 
knawlageing,  sb.,  means  of  identifying, 

1408. 
kun,   v.,  know,    139,    148,   etc. ;    can, 

i  sg.  pres.  ind.,  74,  1915,  etc. ;  j  phi. 

pres.  ind.,  1 66,  3202;  kouth,  pt.  ind., 

57,  1647,  etc. ;  kowth,  36,  1115,  etc.; 

be  able,  kan,  i  sg.  pres.  ind.,  648 ; 

can,  2  sg.  pres.  ind.,  646 ;  2 plu.  pres. 


ind.,  423;  cowth,  pt.  ind.,  300,  2418, 
etc.;  kun  thank,  thank,  60,  137. 
kunand,  see  cunand. 

laiked,  v.,pt.  ind.,  sported,  3636. 
lare,  sb.,  learning,  32,  43,  70,  no,  127, 

etc. ;  counsel,  2003. 
large,  adj.,  liberal,  1327. 
lath,  adj.,   loath,    averse,    1123,    1392, 

1542,  2052. 

lathly,  adv.,  in  loathsome  manner,  1643. 
latoun,  sb.,  latten,  brass,  2174;  latown, 

2198;  laton,  2201. 
law,  adv.,  low,  1596,  2382  ;  lawer,  comp., 

230. 

lawes,  sb.,  practices,  ways  of  doing,  2537. 
lay,  v.,  wager,  609. 
leche,  sb.,  a  physician,  a  leech,  1137, 

1193,  1698,  1707. 
leche,  v.,  heal,  1232. 
lechecraft,  sb.,  knowledge  of  medicine, 

leechcraft,  1104. 
leghe,  sb.,  lie,  3213;   ly,  3235,   3858; 

lyes,  plu.,  2506. 
lele,  adj.,  faithful,  leal,  4008. 
lely,  adv.,  faithfully,  loyally,  2228. 
leman,  sb.,  paramour,  1517,  1520,  1539, 

1637,  1714,  2969;  sweetheart,  3482, 

3528,  3532>  3536,  3566,  357L  3601, 

3610,  3614,  3668,  3672. 
len,  v.,  grant,  2578. 
lende,  v.,  remain,  848. 
lenger,   adv.,   longer,    558,    848,   2629, 

3090,  3093,  etc. ;  langer,  2371. 
Lentilioune,    80;    Lentiliown,    1467; 

Lentiliowne,  1 505  ;  Lentilion,  (head- 
ing) p.  51- 
lere,  v.,  teach,  73,  in,  124,  734,  etc.; 

lered,  pt.  ind.,  1469,  2537 ;  pp.,  2394, 

2518;  learn,  75,  147,  332,  1106,  2578, 

3970;  3  sg.  pres.  subj.,   157;   leres, 

3  sg-  pres.  ind.,  85  ;  lerid,  pt.  ind., 

1 1 08  ;  lered,//.,  362. 
les,  adj.,  of  less  importance  or  lower 

rank  (in  phrase  les  and  mare),  384, 


GLOSSARY 


197 


905,  3974*  4037;  adJ>  as  sb->  the 
smaller,  4046. 

lese,  sb.,  falsehood,  3523. 

lese,  adj.,  false,  2595. 

lesing,  sb.,  lying,  1672;  lesyng,  4032; 
leseing,  4163. 

let,  v.,  esteem,  hold,  3  plu.  pt.  ind., 
1526  ;  behave,  lete,  3  sg.  pt.  ind.,  527. 

let,  v.,  hinder,  prevent,  662 ;  stand  in 
the  way  of,  injure,  impede,  172,  2289. 

let,  sb.,  delay,  877,  1051,  1981,  2694, 
3J79>  3976. 

leue,  v.,  believe,  3850. 

leue,  v.,  forsake,  leave,  940,  2128; 
leuid,//.  ind.,  720. 

leuenyng,  sb.,  lightning,  2462,  2492, 
2504. 

leuer,  adj.,  comp.,  liefer,  rather,  1296, 
1669,  2563,  4257;  leuere,  1570,  3169; 
leuyr,  2970. 

lewte,  sb.,  loyalty,  3599. 

lichowre,  sb.,  a  dissolute  person,  a  para- 
mour, 1617,  2488. 

lig,  v.,  lie,  recline,  1176,  1722,  1740, 
1743,  1974,  etc.;  lyg,  1010;  ly,  1019, 
283 5»  3°53  5  ligges,  3  sg.  pres.  ind., 
1788 ;  lay,  pt.  ind:,  219,  233,  247,  811, 
836,  etc. ;  have  position,  lay,  pt.  ind., 
804  (see  note),  3333 ;  sleep,  liggen, 
//.,  1518. 

lightly,  adv.,  easily,  1079. 

liking,  sb.,  pleasure,  comfort,  434 ;  like- 
ing,  1898;  likyng,  2681;  lyking, 
1687,  3476  ;  lykyng,  3359. 

liking,  adj.,  see  lykand. 

list,  v.,  ^  sg.  pres.  ind.,  it  pleases,  2999  ; 
pt.  ind.,  1810;  lyst,  2425. 

lithe,  sb.,  property,  150. 

loge,  sb.,  a  lodge,  a  hut,  2855,  2895. 

loke,  v.,  look  at,  examine,  observe, 
639,  1346,  1361  ;  luked,  pt.  ind.,  401, 
856;  look  to  see,  1702,  2672;  lokes, 
2  plu.  imper.,  3985  ;  loked,  //.  ind., 
1140;  "try  (if  something  can  be 
done)  "  [N.  E.  D.,  Look,  3,  b~\,  luke, 


2228  ;  take  care  of,  protect, 3  sg.pres. 

subj.,  luke,  2243. 
lordinges,  sb.,  sirs,  41,  145,  3985 ;  lord- 

ynges,  i. 
lorn,  see  lose, 
lose,  v.,  disgrace,  bring  to  ruin,  2344 ; 

destroy,  746  ;  lose,  lorn,  //.,  663, 866, 

2348,  2708,  2984. 
losengeri,  sb.,  flattery,  2145. 
loseniowre;  sb.,  deceiver,  flatterer,  732  ; 

loseniowres,  gen.  plu.,  2149. 
lowt,  v.,  bow   to,  bend,  stoop,    1596, 

1850;  lowted,  //.  ind.,  771 ;  louted, 

495,  2382. 
luke,  see  loke. 
Lumbard,  2182,  2187. 
lurdan,  sb.,  stupid  fellow,  blockhead, 

2638,  2641;  lurdans,  plu.,  2145. 
lutby,  sb.,  paramour,  1552. 
lykand,    adj.,    pleased,    3522 ;    liking, 

(?)  vigorous,  1885  (see  note), 
lyth,  adj.,  calm,  2763. 

ma,  adj.,  comp.,  more,  102  (used  as  sb.}, 
264,  342,  649,  3344,  3972.  See  mare. 

mai,  v.,  may,  can,  112,  341,  etc.;  may, 
113,  147,  etc.;  might,  pt.  ind.,  144, 
169,  etc.;  myght,  14;  moght,  194, 
216,  1922,  2117,  2547,  3368. 

maister,  adj.,  chief,  main,  668. 

maistri,  sb.,  expert  knowledge,  skill, 
1115,  1474;  maystri,  2216;  mastery, 
maystri,  3150. 

Malquidras,  88 ;  Malquidas,  1847, 2113. 

make,  sb.,  mate,  wife,  3698,  4056. 

maner,  sb.,  kind,  sort,  84,  179,  304. 

manere,  sb.,  manor,  783. 

mangery,  sb.,  feasting,  277. 

mare,  adj.,  comp.,  of  more  importance, 
more  distinguished,  (in  phrase  leg, 
and  mare),  384,  905,  3974,  4037  ;  (m 
phrase  mare  and  myn),  425,  1380; 
adj.  used  as  sb.,  the  larger,  4046, 
4047.  See  ma. 

Mari,  3898. 


198 


GLOSSARY 


mase,  3  sg.  pres.  ind.  of  make,  make, 

1032,  1270;  2 phi.  imper.,  3594. 
mawgre,  sb.,  ill  will,  1071. 
Maxencius,  129,  3188,  (heading)  p.  no, 

3727- 
mekil,  adj.,  much,  60,  112,   137,   270, 

etc. ;  mekill,  247  ;  mekyl,  2928,  4303. 
mene,  v.,  lament,  3721  ;  communicate 

with,  mened,  //.  ind.,  3296. 
meneyng,  sb.,  distress,  grief,  3184. 
menge,   sb.,   retinue,   709,    905,    3436, 

3757,  4189,  4298  ;  household  attend- 

ant3,  2511. 
menisown,  sb.,  dysentery,  1252;  meni- 

sowne,  1228;  menyson,  1232. 
mensk,  v.,  honor,  2941. 
Merlyn,  2645,  2654,  2657,  2682,  2689, 

2713,  2765. 

mes,  sb.,  mass,  3511,  3652,  3688,  3765. 
mete,  sb.,  food,  589,  1182,  1188,  2027, 

2859,  etc.;  met,  3598. 
meteliest,  adj.,  well-proportioned,  me- 
dium-sized, 67. 
Milisant,  12. 
misauenture,  sb.,  misfortune,  ill  luck, 

698 ;  misauentoure,  1 480. 
moght,  see  mai. 
molde,  sb.,  ground,  earth,  2238,  2259, 

2279,  2667,  2830,  3382. 
most,  see  mot. 
mot,   v.,   may,  687,   1071,    1085,  1153, 

1444,  etc.;  must,  1749;  mote,  1708; 

most,/£  ind.,  1155,  1157?  1161,  1162, 

1378,  etc. 
mote,  v.,  dispute  about,  argue,  moot, 

3748. 
mun,  v.,  shall,  will,  must,  /  sg.  pres. 

ind.,   465,    1372,    1569,    2924;   2  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  1818,  31 59  ;  j  sg:  pres.  ind., 

756;  mund,  //.  ind.,  1164. 
mydyng,  sb.,  dunghill,  2663,  2673 ;  mid- 

ding,  2669. 

myn,  adj.,  of  less  importance,  less  dis- 
tinguished    (in    phrase    mare    and 

myn),  425,  1380. 


mysfare,  sb.,  ill  faring,  misfortune,  4132. 
myster,  sb.,  kind,  sort,  1 574 ;  mystere, 
need,  3314. 

nakend,  //.,  made  naked,  562. 

nakins,  adj.,  of  no  kind,  1934,  2217. 
See  nanekins  and  alkins. 

namly,  adv.,  especially,  in  particular, 
3203. 

nanekins,  adj.,  of  no  kind,  2502 ;  nan- 
kins, 3208;  nanekyn,  2610;  none- 
kins,  2167,  4234;  nonkins,  661.  See 
nakins  and  alkins. 

nanes,  adv.,  nonce,  1939. 

Nauern,  1 1 69.    See  note. 

ne,  conj.,  nor,  no,  446,  etc. 

ne,  adv.,  not,  2219. 

nedder,  sb.,  serpent,  adder,  815,  822, 
825,  833,  839,  841,  882, 891,  894,  897  ; 
neder,  843. 

nedely,  adv.,  necessarily,  1746,  2007. 

nedes,  adv.,  necessarily,  1708,  1749. 

negh,  v.,  approach,  2562  (MS.  neght) ; 
neghed,  //.  ind.,  2302. 

negh,  adv.,  near,  nigh,  986. 

neghend,  adj.,  ninth,  (headings)  pp.  73 
and  74. 

nerehand,  adv.,  nearly,   almost,    1890, 

2774,  39*7- 
nese,  sb.,  nose,  2330. 
neste,  adv.,  next,  2105. 
neuyn,  v.,  name,  2567,  3770. 
Nicholas,  Saint,  458. 
nigromancy,  sb.,  necromancy,  2162. 
no,  adv.,  not,  2012.    See  note. 
nomen,  pp.,  taken,  1362,  3263. 
nonkins,  see  nanekins. 
norices,  sb.,  nurses,  789,  807,  851. 
note,  sb.,  use,  employment,  service,  754, 

1903  (see  note). 
now]?er,  conj.,  neither,  566,  838,  1077, 

2108,  3386,  etc.;  nowther,  4062. 
noyes,    sb.,    annoyances,    discomforts, 

4095- 
nyce,  adj.,  foolish,  285,  1857,  2395. 


GLOSSARY 


199 


0,  adj.,  see  a. 

0,  prep.,  on,  upon,  95,  219,  1537,  1709, 

3083- 

Oboune,  adv.,  above,  3124. 
obout,  prep.,    engaged    in,    scheming, 

21 21,  2346,  3163,  3206. 
Obowt,  adv.,  3626  (see  note). 
Octouian,  1316.    See  note. 
Ot,prep.,  off,  658,  1387,  2758,  3298. 
ogayn,  prep.,  against,  1292. 
ogayne,  adv.,  again,  1341  ;  ogain,  1352 ; 

back,  ogayn,   468,   488,   943,   2932, 

2958  ;  Ogain,  1434 ;  in  return,  in  reply, 

724 ;  ogayn,  760. 
omang,  adv.,  meanwhile,  3888. 
omel,  adv.,  together,  both  at  once,  428  ; 

omell,  meantime,  3137. 
omell,  prep.,  among,  3953. 
onane,  adv.,  at  once,  immediately,  117, 

819,  828,  1034,  1124,  etc. 
onence,  prep.,  against,  3198;  onnence, 

close  to,  beside,  2037. 
or,  conj.,  before,  251,  681,  1278,  1578, 

1982,  etc.    See  are. 
0]?er,  adj.,  second,  next,  637. 
Oj?er,  adv.,  either,  1907.    See  note. 
ouer  all,  adv.,  everywhere,  786. 
owin,  see  a  win. 
ow]?er,  conj.,  either,  243,  2513. 

paramowre,  adv.,  if  you  please,  82; 

paramore,  508. 
parted,  pp.,  departed,  945. 
pay,  v.,  please,  396 ;  payes,  3  plu.  pres. 

ind.,  3810;  payd,  //.,  72,  142,  267, 

543,    1651,   etc.;    paid,    1761,   2271, 

2978,  3992,  3997. 
payn,  sb.,  labor,  pains,  2616;  penalty, 

payne,  pain,  4286. 
payre,   v.,  injure,   damage,    2346.    See 

note. 

perfay,  interj.,  in  faith,  242. 
pik,  sb.,  pitch,  1356,  1367,  1372,  1405. 
pine-appel  tre,  sb.,  pine  tree,  612  (see 

note),  616,  626,  639,  696. 


play,   sb.,   enjoyment,   place   of    ever- 
lasting joy,  21. 

pople,  sb.,  people,  2320 ;  puple,  1063. 
pouert,  sb.,  poverty,  4126. 
powste,  sb.,  power,  3845. 
Poyl,  2215,  2221,  2281 ;  Poyle,  1691. 
preche,    v.,    complain    to,    3754.    See 

note. 

prese,  sb.,  crowd,  multitude,  1059,  2596. 
prese,  v.,  drive,  press,  3754. 
preuete,  sb.,  secret,  2231,  3391 ;  secrets, 

secret  plans,  284,  3378. 
prime,  sb.,  high  prime,  nine  o'clock  A.M., 

359  (see  note),  4167. 
prise,  sb.,  worth,  excellence,  270,  448, 

503,  778,  1075,  etc- 
proces,  sb.,  story,  (general  heading)  p.  i, 

(headings)  pp.  20,  24,  32,  35,  43.    See 

note  to  heading  p.  20. 
prolong,  sb.,  prologue,  (headings)    pp. 

49»  57.  63,  73,  81,  87,  95,  104,  108, 

127.    See  note  to  heading  p.  49. 
prow,    sb.,    advantage,   profit,      1892, 

2250. 

puple,  see  pople. 
puruay,   v.,   collect,   3978    (see   note) ; 

procure,  4168;  puruaid,  //.  ind.,  217, 

269,  299. 

putayne,  sb.,  prostitute,  strumpet,  1791. 
py,  sb.,  magpie,  2402,  2417,  2421,  2423, 

2427,  etc. 
pyne,  sb.,  torment,  place  of  torment, 

21 ;  anguish,  2375. 

quaint,  adj.,  \vise,  shrewd,  skilled,  90 ; 

quaynt,  3098,  4115. 
quaintise,   sb.,    cunning,    1919,   3150; 

quayntise,  3158;  quayntyse,  3402; 

cunning    device,    2206;    quayntise, 

3091. 

quell,  v.,  destroy,  3068. 
quert,  sb.,  prosperity,  4188. 
quik,  adj.,  alive,  895,  1460,  2100. 
quit,  see  quite, 
quite,  adj.,  white,  1694. 


200 


GLOSSARY 


quite,  v.,  requite,  repay,  381 ;  quit,//. 
ind.,  3401,  4116;  //.,  4322;  acquit, 
exonerate,  3224 ;  deliver,  set  free, 
quit,  //.,  3096.  . 

rad,  adj.,  afraid,  983. 

rafe,  see  reue. 

raiked,  //.,  strayed,  977. 

rath,  adv.,  quickly,  73,  4197. 

rede,  sb.,  counsel,  910,  1594,  1653, 1820, 

1831,  etc. 
rede,  adj.,  red,  2288,  2677,  2821 ;  rosy- 

complexioned,  87. 
rede,  v.,  interpret,  read,  2662,  2747. 
rede,  v.,  counsel,  262,  1023,  3204;  /  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  441,  2253,  2754,  2933,  2937  ; 

i  plu.  pres.  ind.,   1891  ;  j  sg.  pres. 

subj.,  511. 
reft,  see  reue. 
rekkes,  v.,  2  sg.  pres.  ind.,  carest,  2558  ; 

roght,  pt.  ind.,  2000. 
remu,  v.,  remove,  2724. 
reproue,  sb.,  reproach,  blame,  3197. 
reson,  sb.,  reason,  right,  506,  941,  2687, 

4088,  4098,  etc.;  resoun,   1044;  re- 
sown,    1855;   explanation,    resown, 

2712,   4011;   resowne,   2731,  3982; 

story,    1502,    1680;    resown,    1506, 

1685,  3812. 
reue,  v.,  deprive  of,  dispossess,  602 ;  2  sg. 

pres.  subj.,  875;  2  sg.   imper.,   1976; 

reues,   2  sg.  pres.  ind.,   2546,  3034 ; 

reft,  //.  ind.,   1016,  1990;  pp.,  737, 

2718  ;  rafe,  pt.  ind.,  tore,  528,  531. 
reuist,  pp.,  fetched  in  haste,  3682. 
rewful,  adj.,  piteous,  4103. 
rig,  sb.,  back,  885,  1009. 
rig-bane,  sb.,  backbone,  1220. 
rightwis,   adj.,    righteous,  2134,  3038, 

3238,  4296.    See  note  on  right  wis, 

1.  130. 

rightwisly,  adv.,  justly,  3042. 
rike,  sb.,  kingdom,  3001,  3009. 
riue,  v.,  arrive,  3876. 
rode,  sb.,  cross,  holy  rood,  1275,  2446. 


roght,  see  rekkes. 

Romany,  2281. 

Romaynes,  3069. 

Rome,  7,  27,  34,  etc. 

rosing,  sb.,  boasting,  92.    See  note. 

ryot,  sb.,  loose  and  luxurious  living,  171. 

sadly,  adv.,  fully,  thoroughly,  58 ;  seri- 
ously, 752. 

sakles,  adj.,  guiltless,  4285. 
sal,  v.,  shall,  /  sg.  pres.  ind.,  3,  22,  etc. ; 

2  sg.  pres.  ind.,   72,  347,   etc.;  j>  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  75, 1 16,  etc. ;  sale,  751,  901 ; 

plu. pres.  ind.,  16,  128,  etc.;  sail, 3 157; 

sale,  j  plu.  pres.  subj.,  1873  ;  sold, 

pt.  ind.,  170,  171,  etc. 
samin,  adv.,  together,  278;  samen,  319; 

samyn,  338. 
san,  see  sanz. 

sande,  sb.,  a  messenger,  2221  ;  some- 
thing sent,  3880. 
sanz,  prep.,  without,  913,  1141;  san, 

2729 ;  saun,  443- 
sare,  sb.,  afflicted  part,  1704;  misery, 

pain,  1257. 

sare,  adj.,  sore,  906,  2366. 
sare,  adv.,  sorely,  313,  563,  825,  839, 

890,  etc. 
Sarezins,  3073,  3144;  Sarzins,  3122, 

3136;  Sarsins,  3129. 
sarily,  adv.,  sorrowfully,  948. 
sary,    adj.,    doleful,    dismal,   unhappy, 

596,  2140,  etc.;  sari,  534,  923,  etc. 
Sauiore,  Saint,  346. 
saun,  see  sanz. 
sawes,  sb.,  sayings,  things  said,  2538, 

4184. 

scathe,  see  skath. 
scill,  see  skill. 

scole,  sb.,  schooling,  instruction,  1926. 
sege,  sb.,  seat,  193,  195. 
sekerly,  adv.,  certainly,  701,  1376,  2689, 

3609. 
sele,  sb.,  good  fortune,  1198,  1833,  1971, 

2129,  2985,  3809. 


GLOSSARY 


201 


selkuth,  sb.,  wonder,  3942;   selkuths, 

wonderful  things,  16. 
semblant,  sb.,  countenance,  semblance, 

349;  sembland,  2556. 
semly,  adj.,  comely,  seemly,  1463,  3863. 
sen,  conj.,  since  (causal),  151,  339,  447, 

505,  679,  etc. ;  since  (temporal),  647, 

1311,2480.    6V*se]7en. 
senatoure,  sb.,  senator,  1345,  1399. 
sere,  adj.,  many,  various,   1705,   4054, 

4095- 

sergant,  see  seriant. 

seriant,  sb.,  servant,  retainer,  285 ;  ser- 
gant, 768;  seriantes,//^.,  1421, 1433, 
1531,  1891,  4139,  4157,  4180,  4183, 
4192. 

series,  sb.,  candles,  2827.    See  note. 

serued,  pp.,  deserved,  1073,  43°6- 

sese,  v.,  2  sg.  pres.  ind.  of  se,  see,  645, 
3732  ;  3  sg-  pres.  ind.,  822,  869,  etc. ; 
2  phi.  imper.,  42. 

sese,  v.,  discontinue,  cease,  2756,  3944; 
ses,  583  ;  sesed,//.  ind.,  2760 ;  sessed, 
2305;  appease,  cure,  1252. 

sest,  adj.,  sixth,  2794. 

set,  pp.,  employed,  360. 

sethed,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  boiled,  1186. 

se]?en,  adv.,  afterwards,  1246,  1813, 
3420,  3510,  4326;  sepin,  453,  ion, 
1643,  2035>  2392-  See  sen- 

share,  v.,  j  sg:  pt.  ind.,  cut,  2820. 

shende,  v.,  ruin,  destroy,  2399,  2568, 
3200;  shend,  4010,  4292;  shent,  //., 
1164,1380,  2123,  2447;  disgrace,  !9645 
injure,  shent,  //.,  542,  548,  552,  748. 

shill,  adv.,  loud,  3835. 

side,  adj.,  wide,  ample,  3102. 

sithe,  sb.,  time,  162;  sith,  350;  syth, 
3574 ;  sij>es,//^.,  2110,  2847  ;  sy'thes, 

3587. 
skath,    sb.,    harm,    injury,    575,    1080, 

2286,  2444 ;  scathe,  2028. 
skill,    sb.,    reason,    right,    2009,    2613 ; 

skyll,  4268;  scill,  1746,  3675;  scyll, 

4076. 


sla,  v.,  slay,  302,  412,  568,  585,  876,  etc. ; 

slas,  2  sg.pres.  ind.,  1265  ;  slase,  755  ; 

sla,  2  plu.  pres.  subj.,  1083;    slogh, 

pt.  ind.,   843,   897,    911,    1087,    1222, 

etc.;    slane,  pp.,  820;    slain,  2131; 

slaine,  3870;   slayn,   1300;  slayne, 

1358. 
slike,  adj.,  such,  404,  539,  605,  691, 858, 

etc.;  swilk,  280,  411,  756,  956,  957, 

etc.;  swik,  1650. 
slogh,  see  sla. 

slokkend,  v.,pt.  ind.,  ceased,  2194. 
smert,  adj.,  sharp,  painful,  2384. 
smertly,  adv.,  quickly,  365,  1265,  1520, 

1989,  2087,  etc. ;  smeretly,  3538. 
smok,  sb.,  smock,  undergarment,  2073. 
snell,  adv.,  quickly,  1875. 
SO,  adv.,  see  swa. 
SO,  conj.,  as,  3282.   See  swa. 
sogat,  adv.,  in  this  manner,  1049,  I297  J 

sogates,  3181. 
soiet,  sb.,  subject,  510. 
sold,  see  sal. 
spede,  v.,  prosper,  profit,  2218,  3674; 

spedes,  2  sg.  pres.  ind.,  2356. 
spell,  sb.,  story,  2,  1304,  1907  (j-^note). 
spens,  sb.,  expense,  380. 
sper,  v.,  bolt,  bar,  1601 ;  sperres,  j  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  1599 ;  sperd,//.  ind.,  1554  ; 

sperid,  3274. 
spill,  v.,  put  to  death,  2570;  spilt,//., 

4290. 
spir,  inquire,  speer,   4142;   spird,  pt. 

ind.,  4158;  spirred,  4159. 
sposail,  sb.,  wedlock,  1142. 
stad,//.,  placed,  situated,  984. 
stede,  sb.,  place,  stead,  condition,  165, 

671,  680,  1295,  1495,  etc.;  sted,  1885 

(see  note), 
stern,  sb.,  star,  422,  424 ;  sternes,  plu., 

100,  390,  401,  414,  415,  etc. 
steuyn,  sb.,   speech,  what   is   uttered, 

2728,  3843. 
still,  adj.,   silent,  309,  432,  445,  1683, 

2357,  etc. ;  stil,  990. 


2O2 


GLOSSARY 


still,  adv.,  silently,  1332,  1588,  2057; 
styll,  1114;  continually,  ever,  155, 

3836- 
stirt,  v.,  dart,  rush,  2  sg.  imper.,  2026; 

pt.  ind.,  1588,  2042,  4209. 
stok,  sb.,  a  post,  or  the  trunk  of  a  tree, 

1588. 
stownde,  sb.,  time,  moment,  781,  923; 

stound,  2991. 

strene,  sb.,  stock,  blood,  1149. 
stulpes,  sb.,  posts  (of  a  cradle),  837  (see 

note),  854. 

sty,  sb.,  way  up,  ascent,  3621. 
sumdel,  adv.,  somewhat,  244  ;  sumdele, 

1647. 
swa,  adv.,  so,  341,  699,  etc. ;  so,  then, 

1846,  2378,  2655,  3188. 
swaine,  sb.,  lad,  2684. 
swerel,  sb.,  squirrel,  3104. 
swier,  sb.,  squire,  3276;  squier,  2011, 

4215;  swiers,  plu.,  1472. 
swik,  see  slike. 
swike,  v.,  deceive,  1353. 
swilk,  see  slike. 

swire,  sb.,  neck,  3739  ;  swyre,  4319. 
swith,  adv.,  quickly,  354,  2404,  2692  ; 

very,  3687. 

swown,  sb.,  swoon,  863. 
syn,  sb.,  sinew,  1135.  -  See  note. 

ta,  see  tak. 

taisand,  pres.  ptc.,  poised  for  shooting, 
2176. 

tak,  v.,  take,  1126,  1194;  2  plu.  pres. 
subj.,  152  ;  ta,  inf.,  2008  ;  tane,  1219 ; 
tase,  3  sg.  pres.  ind.,  3429,  3702, 
3709;  toke,  //.  ind.,  159,  163,  167, 
173'  i97»  etc.;  tane,  pp.,  158,  1348, 
!563»  J569»  J578,  etc.;  taken,  1572; 
commit,  give,  tak,  2  phi.  pres.  subj., 
962;  2  sg.  imper.,  59,  71,  82,  etc.; 
take,  97  ;  takes,  2  phi.  imper.,  41 ; 
toke,  pt.  ind.,  199,  207,  1487,  etc. 

tane,  pron.,  one,  2205.    See  ane. 

tane,  v.,  see  tak. 


tase,  see  tak. 

tastes,  v.,j  sg.  pres.  ind.,  feels,  1135. 
temped,//.,  put  to  trial,  tried,  3139. 
tend,  adj.,  tenth,  (headings)  pp.  81, 

82. 

tene,  sb.,  anger,  991 ;  harm,  4281. 
tent,  sb.,  attention,  207,  962,  2184,  2476, 

2525- 
tent,  v.,  give  attention  to,  tentes,  2  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  2569  ;  3  plu.  pres.  ind.,  35. 
ter,  sb.,  tar,  1356,  1367. 
thar,  v.,  3  sg.  pres.  ind.,  need,   2998  ; 

thurt,  pt.  ind.,  1 522. 
the,  v.,  thrive,  687,  1153,  1447,   1571, 

1632,  etc. 
think,  v.,  3  sg.  pres.  ind.,  it  seems,  340, 

449,  1582,  3197,  3215,  3610;  thoght, 

//.  ind.,  91,  223,  226,  296,  2663,  etc. 
tholed,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  suffered,  923. 
thonord,  //.,  thundered,  2492. 
thonore,  ^.,,thunder,  2513. 
thraw,  sb.,  moment,  915. 
thrawes,  v.,  3   sg.  pres.  ind.,  throws, 

2062.    See  note, 
threttende,  adj.,  thirteenth,  (headings) 

p.  104.    See  note. 
thrid,  adj.,  third,  77,  793,    (headings) 

pp.  32  and  33,  1032,  2062. 
thrinfalde,  adj.,   threefold,   2116.    See 

note. 

thurt,  see  thar. 

thusgat,  thusgates,  see  ]msgat. 
tide,  sb.,  time,  421,   975,    1047,    1237, 

3958;tyde,  867,  3139,  3823. 
\\\,prep.,  to,  405,  754,  847,966,  1162, 

etc.  (39  times);  till,  43 T>  549.  I242, 

1308,  1872,  etc.  (15  times);  tyll,  3047, 

3335  ;  until,  584,  3207. 
til,   conj.,    until,   till,  486,    1024,    1048, 

1479,  etc- !  till,  1031. 
tine,  v.,  lose,  557  ;  tyne,  2954 ;  tynt,  pt. 

ind.,  2573. 
tite,  adv.,  quickly,  580,  824,  998,  1504, 

2186,  etc. ;  tyte,  2316,    2406,   2757; 

titter,  comp.,  549,  754. 


GLOSSARY 


203 


tipand,  sb.,  tidings,  491,  3521 ;  tipandes, 

plu.,  3526,  3527  ;  tithandes,  3602. 
to,  adv.,  too,  1582,  1857,  2394. 
to-drogh,  v.,  3  sg.  pt.  ind.,  disheveled, 

533- 

toke,  see  tak. 

tome,  sb.,  leisure,  3,  256,  980. 
tome,  adj.,  empty,  1235. 
to-raced,  v.,pt.  ind.,  scratched  violently, 

lacerated,  535. 
to-rent,//.,  torn,  541,  551. 
traist,  v.,  trust,  confide,  3377  ;  traystes, 

2  5S-  Pres-  ind.,  3162. 
trauail,  sb.,  labor,  trouble,  380,  763. 
trayn,  sb.,  trick,  wile,  526. 
trestes,   sb.,   trestles,   or  large   stools, 

4200.    See  note, 
tyne,  see  tine, 
tyte,  see  tite. 

J?a,  adj.,  these,  those,  the,  384,  1320, 

2118,  2587,  2872,  etc.;  ]?o,  160. 
pare,  adv.,  where,  1845,  3922- 
parfra,  adv.,  therefrom,  650. 
partill,  adv.,  thereto,  962,  973,  1749, 

2476,  3693. 

J>eJ>in,  adv.,  thence,  1362. 
J>ir,   adj.,  these,   260,  467,    525,    2306, 

2739.  2978,  3843»  4184- 
J?0,  see  J>a. 
J?usgat,  adv.,  thus,  151,  413,  703,  1177, 

1807,  etc.;  thusgat,  3839;  pusgate, 

4327 ;  thusgates,  2456. 

valure,  sb.,  valor,  579. 
vauaceowre,  sb.,  a  sub-vassal,  1824. 
venged,//.,  avenged,  455,  3742. 
vergere,  sb.,  orchard,  175. 
verrayment,  adv.,  truly,  2206. 
vertu,  sb.,  merit,  virtue,  1106;  vertuse, 

flu.,  148;  medicinal  efficacy,  1212. 
vice,   sb.,   a   winding  stair,    805.     See 

note. 

vire,  sb.,  a  crossbow  bolt,  2191. 
Virgil,  2160,  2174,  2197,  2207,  2288. 


vmbithoght,   v.,  pt.    ind.,   bethought, 

3°55- 

vmclosed,  //.,  surrounded,  784. 

vnder,  see  note  to  1.  3798. 

vnderlout,  sb.,  subject,  3164. 

vnderon,  sb.,  nine  o'clock  A.M.,  348. 
See  note. 

vnderset,  v.,  support  with  props,  under- 
pin, 2290 ;//.  ind.,  2297. 

vnhap,  sb.,  misfortune,  411. 

vnhid,  //.,  283.    See  note. 

vnkind,  adj.,  unnatural,  3008. 

vnkowth,  adj.,  strange,  uncouth,  4161. 

vnlefeful,  adj.,  unallowable,  improper, 

2537- 

vnnethes,  adv.,  scarcely,  3290,  3625. 

vntil, /*-#.,  unto,  325,  416,  757,  1814, 
2188,  etc.;  vntill,  571,  1070,  2569, 
3397.  35I5>  3774;  vntyll,  3420; 
vntil  ane,  without  exception,  unani- 
mously, 416. 

voided,  v.,pt.  ind.,  departed,  1663. 

vowchesaue,  v.,  2 plu.pres.  subj.,  vouch- 
safe, 3356.  See  also  vowche  we  safe, 
2262,  and  vowche  it  saue,  4172. 

vpbraid,  sb.,  reproach,  2430. 

vp  so  down,  adv.,  upside  down,  835. 

wagged,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  shook,  995. 

waited,  see  wayt. 

wake,  v.,  watch,  3086. 

wakemen,  sb.,  watchmen,  1616,  1621. 

wald,  see  wil. 

walm,  sb.,  spring,  bubble,  2756 ;  walme, 

2760 ;  walmes,  plu.,  2717,  2719,  2721, 

2727,  2739. 

wambe,  sb.,  belly,  1001,  ion. 
wand,  sb.,  rod,  stick,  2459. 
wane,  sb.,  quantity,  number,  265,  3144, 

3542. 
wane,  sb.,  thought;  in  phrase  wil  of 

wane,  bewildered  in  thought,  1590. 

See  wil. 
war,    adj.,   cautious,    473,   504,   1076, 

3196. 


204 


GLOSSARY 


wardes,    sb.,    guardianship,   authority, 

292. 

warisowne,  sb.,  reward,  2225. 
warist, //.,  cured,  1191. 
wate,  see  wit. 

wath,  sb.,  harm,  danger,  4291.   See  note, 
wax,  v.,  grow,  1281,  3725  ;  waxes,  3  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  647  ;   wex,  3  sg.  pt.  ind., 

665,  2763,  3931  ;  jplu.pt.  ind.,  858; 

waxen,//.,  1204. 
wayt,  v.,  observe,  spy  out,  4146;  seek, 

waited,  3  sg.pt.  ind.,  1577. 
wede,    sb.,    garments,    accouterments, 

479,  799,  2881. 
welland,  pres.  ptc.,    welling,    boiling, 

2716. 

weltered,  v.,  pt.  ind.,  turned  over,  834. 
wem,  sb.,  fault,  1250. 
wen,  adv.,  when,  2315. 
wer,  adj.,  worse,  1649,  1652,  2118. 
wer,  adv.,  worse,  1391,  2486. 
were,  sb.,  war,  2212,  3277. 
were,  sb.,  doubt,  116. 
weten,  see  wit,  v. 
weterly,  adv.,  surely,  3499,  4255. 
whannow,  interj.,  what  now,  how  now, 

949  (see  note),  1603,  2141. 
wharesom,  adv.,  wherever,  2999. 
whatkin,    adj.,    what    sort   of,   3092; 

whatkyn,  3367. 

whatsom,  pron.,  whatsoever,  3381. 
whejjer,  pron.,  which   of  two,    4072, 

4077. 

whepin,  adv.,  whence,  3597. 
whilk,  pron.,  which,  51,  4084  (twice), 
widewar,  adv.,  far  and  wide,  2416. 
wight,   adj.,   fleet,    active,    758,    796; 

wighter,  comp.,  1017. 
wightly,    adv.,    quickly,    swiftly,    363, 

3374 ;  wightli,  1395. 
wik,  adj.,  wicked,  1368,  1864;  wiked, 

3789  ;  wikked,  2493,  32°4- 
wil,  adj.,  at  a  loss;  wil  of  rede,  at  a 

loss  in  counsel,  at  one's  wit's  end, 


1594,  2921  ;  wil  of  wane,  bewildered 

in  thought,  1590. 
wils,  adv.,  whilst,   1344;   whils,    761, 

2332,  etc. 
win,   v.,  make  one's  way,  1372,  3368, 

3387.  35°o;  wyn,  152,5,  3346;  wan, 

3  sS-Pt-  ind-,  1598. 
wit,  sb.,  knowledge,   wisdom,    49,   94, 

etc.;  mind,  wits,  532,   1107;  wittes, 

plu.,  113. 
wit,   v.,   know,    189,   328,   359,    1146, 

2446,  etc.;  weten,   1178  (see  note); 

wate,   i  sg.  pres.   ind.,   1025,    2105; 

2  SS'  Pres-  ind.,  1795  ;  3  sg.  pres.  ind., 

2233 ;  2  sg.  pres.  subj.,  3060 ;  wote, 

i  sg.  pres.  ind.,  3842  ;  3  sg.  pres.  ind., 

1750;    wit,    2  plu.  pres.    ind.,   557; 

2 plu.  imper.,  1368  ;  wist,//,  ind.,  224, 

475,  1229,  1327,  etc. ;  //.  subj.,  1082, 

1234,  1391. 
With, prep.,  with,  40,  122,  etc.;  by,  784, 

930,  1300,  1496,  1869. 
wittily,  adv.,  wisely,  2130. 
witty,  adj.,  wise,  sensible,  211,  3216. 
wode,  adj.,  mad,  daft,  520,   527,   532, 

554,  689,  etc. 

wodnes,  sb.,  madness,  862. 
WOgh,  sb.,  evil,  calamity,  912,  1253. 
won,  adj.,  accustomed,   230,  729,  988, 

1076,  1454,  etc.  ;  wone,  3652. 
won,  v.,  dwell,  1804,  4146;  wons,  3  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  3384  ;  wond,  //.  ind.,  288, 

366,  1418,  2812,  3237,  etc.;  wonand, 

pres.  ptc.,  1312;  wond,  //.,  4067. 
wonder,  adj.,  wonderful,  766. 
wonder,   adv.,   wonderfully,   250,   796, 

1426,  2691,  2986,  etc. 
wont,  v.,  be  accustomed,  3  sg.  pt.  ind., 

1404  (see  note) ;  //.,  972. 
wonyng,  sb.,  dwelling,  3355.  See  won,  v. 
worthed,  //.,  become,  685. 
wregh,  v.j  betray,   1166;  wries,  3  sg. 

pres.  ind.,  2505. 
wreing,  sb.,  betrayal,  2438. 


GLOSSARY  205 

wreke,  sb.,  violence,  429.  yen,  see  eghe. 

wreke,  f.,  avenge,  3172,    3738  ;  2  sg.  ymp,  s6.,  scion,  613,  617,  641,  645,  654, 

pres.  subj.,  3038.  etc. 

wrethed, //.,  angered,  745,  3787.  Ynde,  sb.t  India,  2274,  2943. 

wries,  see  wregh.  Ypocras,  1093,1102,  1116,  1120,  1123, 

wrot,  v.,pt.  ind.,  rooted,  992.  etc.;  Ipocras,  1205;  Ypocrase,  1086, 

wyfe,  sb.,  woman,  409.  1109. 


INDEX 


[The  references  are  to  the  pages.] 


A[uchinleck]  MS.,  xxxvii,  xliii-xlv. 
A*  (the  group  of  MSS.  typified  by  the 

prose  text  published  by  A.  d'Ancona), 

xxiii,  xxvii,  xxix-xxxvi,  lix. 
d,  Anglo-Saxon,  development  of,  in  C 

and  R,  Ixxiii,  Ixxiv. 
Aban  Lahiql,  xv. 
Abbreviations,  table  of,  148;  in  C,  Ixix; 

in  R,  Ixxi. 

Abulfazel,  Ayar  Danish,  Ixxix. 
Accent,   reversal  of,  Ixxvi;   wrenching 

of,  Ixxvii,    167,   172;    lines    of  three 

accents,  Ixxvii,  151. 
Adenet  le  Roi,  Cleomades,  xcv,  xcvi. 
Adolphus,  Fables,  xc. 
./Esop,  Fables,  Ixxix,  xcviii,  ci-ciii,  179. 
Aght  used  impersonally,  168. 
Aghteld,  182. 
Ahlquist,  A.,  cxiii. 
A I  to-drogh,  155. 
A I  vnder,  184. 
'AXafcii',  ex. 
Alakesa  Kathd,  Ixxix. 
Albertinus,  A.,  Der  teutschen  recreation 

oder  Liisthaus,  Ixxxvi. 
Aide :  balde,  the  rhyme,  1 50. 
Alexander,  163. 

Alphabet  of  Tales,  An,  xc,  xcviii,  177. 
Alton,  J.,  xxx. 

Amabile  di  Continentia,  xxviii,  xxix. 
Amatores,  xxvi,  177. 
American  editions  of  The  Seven  Sages, 

xxi. 

Amid,  xxvi,  cxii. 
Amis  and  Amiloun,  cxii,  150. 
Amplification  peculiar  to  C  and  R,  153, 

156,  158,  163,  174,  175,  177,  181,  182, 

183,  184. 


Anchialus,  Michael,  151. 
And,  when  abbreviated,  149. 
Andreopulus,  Michael,  xiii. 
Andrew  of  Ratisbon,  xcvi. 
Anvdr-i  Suhaili,  Ixxix,  Ixxxiii,  xcviii. 
Anxilles,  151. 

Aper,  xv,  xvii,  xx,  xlix ;  originals  and 
analogues,  Ixxxii-lxxxiv ;  C  text  of, 

33-35- 

Ar[undel]  MS.,  xxxviii,  xlv,  xlvi. 

Arabic  versions  of  the  Book  of  Sindibdd, 
xi,  xiii,  xiv,  xvi,  xci,  xcvii. 

Arabian  Nights,  xiv,  xcviii,  ex. 

Arbor,  xlix,  Iv,  Ivi,  Ixxviii;  C  text  of, 
21-24. 

Aristophanes,  Clouds,  Ixxxvi. 

Armenian  version  of  H,  xxvi. 

Arnold  of  Liibeck,  Chronica  Slavorum, 
xcv. 

Ars  Metrike,  confusion  with  Arith- 
metica,  153. 

Arthour  and  Merlin,  175. 

Arthur  and  Gorlagon,  Ixxix. 

As[loan]  MS.,  xxxvi,  xxxix-xli,  Iv-lvii, 
172-174. 

Ashby,  S.  R.,  viii. 

As-Samarquandl,  xiv. 

Aurbacher,  L.,  Ein  Volksbiichlein,  cii. 

Authorship  of  Oriental  versions,  xi-xv  ; 
of  the  Continental  versions,  xviii- 
xxxv ;  of  the  Middle  English  ver- 
sions, Ivii,  Iviii ;  of  the  later  English 
versions,  Ixi-lxiii,  Ixvi. 

Avis,  xv,  xvii,  xx,  xl,  xlix  ;  originals  and 
analogues,  xcvii-xcix ;  C  text  of,  82- 
87. 

Ayrer,  J.,  cv. 

Azraqi,  xv. 


207 


208 


INDEX 


B  [alliol]  MS.,  xxxviii,  xlvii,  xlviii. 

Backstrb'm,  P.  O.,  xxv. 

Baethgen,  F.,  xii. 

Baldo,  Alter  Esopus,  Ixxix. 

Bancillas,  151. 

Bandello,  Novelle,  Ixxxvi. 

Barachijah    ha-Nakdan,  Mischle   Schu- 

alim,  cii. 
Barham,  R.  H.,  The  Ingoldsby  Legends, 

cv. 

Baring-Gould,  S.,  Ixxviii,  xci. 
Bartoli  and  Sansoni,  Ixxxvi. 
Bayeux  Tapestry,  ci. 
Beal,  S.,  Ixxix. 
Bede,  xcvi,  cviii. 
Bedier,  J.,  xv. 

Bendo  and  Richardo,  Ixxxvi. 
Benfey,  T.,  xi,  xiii,  Ixxviii,  Ixxx,  xcvii, 

cv,  cviii. 
Bergmann,  B.,  Nomadische  Streifereien, 

Ixxx. 

Berinus,  L'Histoire  du  Chevalier, Ixxxvi. 
Berni,  Orlando  Innamorato,  ex. 
Betterton,    T.,    The   Amorous    Widow, 

xci ;  Barnaby  Brittle,  xci. 
Bibbiena,  Cardinal,  La  Calandria,  xci. 
Bickerstaffe,  I.,  The  Ephesian  Matron, 

civ. 

Bidpai,  Fables  of,  Ixxix,  Ixxxiii,  c. 
Black,  G.  F.,  Ixii. 
Blayke,  152. 
Boccaccio,  Decameron,  Ixxxix,  xci,  xcii, 

xciv,  xcviii. 

Bojardo,  Orlando  Innamorato,  ex. 
Bokenam,  O.,  Lives  of  Saints,  163. 
Bolt  es  ful  sone  shot,  for  }>aire,  1 58. 
Boner,  U.,  Edelstein,  cii. 
Book  of  Sindibdd,  xi-xv,  xvii,  xix,  xx. 
Borowd,  i'68. 
Botermans,  A.  J.,  xxiv. 
Bourdeilles,    P.    de,    Vies    des    Dames 

Galantes,  ciii. 
Boys  Saynt  Martine,  155. 
Brandl,  A.  L.,  xxxvii,  Ixxvi. 
Brede,  on,  170. 


Brentano,  C.,  cv. 

Bretonne,    Restif   de   la,    Les    Contem- 

poraines,  cv. 

Bright,  J.  W.,  vii,  166,  170,  177. 
Brinon,  P.,  L* Ephtsienne,  ciii. 
Brown,  A.  C.  L.,  cv. 
Browne,  W.  H.,  viii. 
"  Bruder  Werner,"  Minnesinger,  Ixxxiii. 
Brush,  M.  P.,  ciii. 
Buchner,  G.,  xxiv,  Ixi,  Ixii. 
Biihel,  Hans  von,  xxv. 
Biilow,  E.  von,  Novellenbuch,  xciii,  civ. 
Burd,  176,  177. 
Burrant,  Robert,  Ix. 
Burton,  R.,  Ixxx. 
Bus,  161. 
Buskes,  1 60. 

C  (MS.  Cotton  Galba  E.  ix),  vi,  xxxvi, 

xxxvii,  xlii,  xliii,  Ixvii-lxxvii. 
Cabinet  des  Fees,  Le,  Ixxxiii,  cv. 
Callaway,  M.,  Jr.,  viii. 
Campbell,  J.  F.,  Ixxvi,  cxi. 
Campbell,   K.,  v,  xlvi,  xlviii,  xlix,  liv, 

lix,  176. 

Campeggi,  A.,  Novelle  amorosi,  ciii. 
Cants,  xv,  xx,  li,  Iv,  Ivi ;  originals  and 

analogues,  Ixxviii-lxxxii ;  C  text  of, 

26-32. 

Capitalization,  Ixix,  Ixxi. 
Cariyd-Pitaka,  Ixxxiii. 
Carteromaco,  N.,  Ricciardetto,  ciii. 
Cassel,  P.,  xi,  xiii,  151,  152. 
Cassiodorus,  xxx. 
Castoiement  a'un  PZre  a  son  Fils,  Le, 

xc,  xcviii. 

Catalan  MS.  of  L,  xxxi. 
Caton,  152. 
Catoun,  Boke  of,  152. 
Caxton's  Aesop,  xcviii,  cii. 
Cento  Novelle  Antiche,  Le,  ciii. 
Cesari,  A.,  xxviii,  xxix,  ci. 
Chambers,  E.  K.,  179. 
Chambers  and  Jones,  Asiatic  Miscellany V 

Ixxix. 


INDEX 


209 


Chamisso,  A.  von,  civ. 
Changes  made  in  the  text,  vii. 
Chapbook  versions,  Ixiii-lxvi. 
Chapman,     George,      The      Widdowes 

Tears,  civ. 

Charax  Pergamenus,  Ixxxvi. 
Charleton,  W.,  The  Ephesian  Matron, 

civ. 

Chartres  MS.  of  K,  xxvii,  xxviii. 
Chaucer,   xciv,    xcvi,    xcvii,  xcix,    152, 

154,  157,  158,  162,  168,  177,  181. 
Chettle,  EL,  Ixiii. 
Chretien  de  Troies,  Yvain,  cv. 
Clouston,  W.  A.,  xiv,  Ix,  Ixi,   Ixxviii- 

Ixxx,  Ixxxv,  Ixxxvi,  Ixxxviii,  xc,  xciii, 

xciv,  xcvii,  xcviii,  ci,  cix,  cxi,  cxii. 
Comedies  noiivelles,  cv. 
Comparetti,    D.,   xiii-xv,    xxi,    Ixxxvi, 

xciv-xcvi,  xcviii,  cxii. 
Comparisons,  conventional,  151. 
Conrad  of  Querfurt,  xciv. 
Continental  versions,  xvii-xxxv. 
Copland  edition,  xxiv,  Ixi,  Ixii,  Ixvi. 
Coronedi-Berti,  C.,  Ixxxvi. 
Cosmas,  xcvi. 
Cosquin,  E.,  Ixxxvii. 
Cotton,  Sir  Robert  Bruce,  library  of, 

Ixvii. 
Cotton  MS.    of  The  Seven  Sages,  see 

C. 

Cotton-Rawlinson  redaction,  Ixvi-lxxvii. 
cr  (lost  source  of  C  and  R),  xlii,  xliii, 

Ixxii-lxxvi. 
Crane,  T.  F.,  xxiii,  Ixxxvi,  xcvii,  xcviii, 

cix,  cxii. 

Cressent,  xliii,  168. 
Qukasaptati,  Ixxxiii,  xc,  xcviii. 
Cursor  Mundi,  Ixxviii,  151,  168,  185. 
Curtin,  J.,  Ixxx. 

D  (Cambridge  University  MS.  Dd.  I. 

17),  xxxix,  xli,  li-lv. 
D*   ("Version    Derimee"),  xxiii,  xxx, 

xxxi,  xxxiv,  xxxv. 
Dacakum&racaritOy  cv. 


Dacier,  M.,  ci,  cii. 

Damien,  Jehan,  xxx. 

D'Ancona,  A.,  xxxii,  xxxiii. 

Dancourt,  F.  C.,  xci. 

Danish  translation  of  H,  xxv. 

Dasent,  G.  W.,  Ixxxvii. 

Date  of  parent  version,  xi ;  of  Eastern 
versions,  xi-xv  ;  of  parent  Western 
version,  xv,  xxi ;  of  other  Continental 
versions,  xix,  xxiii-xxxiv ;  of  the 
Middle  English  MSS.,  xxxvii-xl,  lix, 
Ixvii,  Ixx,  Ixxii ;  of  the  later  English 
versions,  Ix-lxii. 

Day,  John,  Ixiii. 

Deif  van  Brugghe,  De,  Ixxxvii. 

Dekker,  Thomas,  Ixiii. 

Delia  Lucia,  G.,  xxviii. 

Deschamps,  E.,  Poesies  Morales,  cii. 

Deslongchamps,  L.,  xviii,  xxx. 

Dialect  of  Middle  English  MSS., 
xxxvii-xl,  xliii,  Ixxiii-lxxvi. 

Diocletian,  xxii,  xxxiii,  xxxiv,  149. 

Dolopathos,  xii,  xv,  xviii-xxi,  Ixxviii, 
Ixxix,  xc,  cix. 

Douce,  F.,  Ixi,  Ixvi. 

Dozon,  L.  A.  H.,  Contes  albanais, 
Ixxxvii. 

Dragomanov,  M.,  Ixxxviii. 

Dramatic  version  by  Dekker,  Chettle, 
Haughton,  and  Day,  Ixii,  Ixiii ;  by 
Sebastian  Wildt,  xxv. 

Dream-begotten  love,  181. 

Du  Halde,  P.  J.  B.,  civ. 

Dunlop,  J.  C.,  Ixxxix,  xci,  xciv,  181. 

Dutch  MSS.  and  editions,  xxv,  xxxiii. 

Dyocletianus  Leben,  xxv. 

E[gerton]  MS.,  xxxviii,  xlvi,  xlvii,  185, 

1 86. 

-e,  syllabic  final,  Ixxiii. 
Edoke,  153. 
Ehret,  P.,  xx. 
Ellis,  G.,  xxxvii. 
Els,  171. 
Emendations,  textual,  vii,  Ixviii. 


210 


INDEX 


Emperor,  name  of,  xii,  xx,  xxii,  xxiii, 
xxvii,  xxix,  xxxi,  xxxiii,  xxxiv,  149. 

Empress,  first,  xx,  xxxiv,  149. 

Empress,  second,  xii,  xx,  xxix,  xxxiv. 

English  versions,  xxxv-lxxvii ;  Middle 
English  versions,  xxxvi-lix ;  later 
English  versions,  Ix-lxvi ;  Cotton- 
Rawlinson  redaction,  Ixvi-lxxvii. 

Erasto,  xxviii,  xxix. 

Erl  of  Tolous,  149,  157. 

Es  used  with  plural  subject,  168,  170, 
183. 

Etherege,  G.,  The  Matrons,  cv. 

Etienne  de  Bourbon,  Ixxix,  cii. 

Etlar,  C.,  Ixxxvii. 

Ett,  167. 

European  versions  other  than  English, 
xvii-xxxv. 

F  (Cambridge  University  MS.  Ff.  II. 

38),  xxxix,  xl,  xlviii-li,  159,  164,  165, 

178. 

Falconer,  F.,  xiv. 
Fancies,  154. 

"  Fauell,  Christofer,"  Ixx. 
Faveurs  et  les  Disgraces  de  FAmmir,  Les, 

ou  les  A  mans  heureux,  xciii,  ciii,  cxi. 
Fayrest  J>at  on  fote  myght  go,  fee,  \  50. 
Feast  of  Fools,  the,  179. 
^"for  F,  150. 
Fiften  winter s^  184. 
Filia,  xxiii,  xxxi,  xxxiv. 
Firenzuola,  Discorsidegli  animali,  xcix. 
Fischer,  H.,  xxiv,  xxv. 
Fischer,  R.,  184. 
Fiseus  (or  Lauriri),  xxx. 
Flamenca,  Le  Roman  de,  cxi. 
Flaubert,  G.,  ciii. 
Fleur  des  histoires,  xcvi. 
Florentine,  xxii,  xxxiv,  150. 
Forty  Vezirs,  The,  Ixxxv,  xcviii,  cv. 
Fmir  skore,  175. 
Foure  as  dissyllable,  153. 
Framework  common   to   Eastern   and 

Western  groups,  xi,  xii. 


Frazer,  J.  G.,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxv. 

French  versions,  xviii-xxiv,  xxvii-xxxv. 

Fuzelier,  L.,  ciii. 

Gaaf,  W.  van  der,  151,  154,   168,  176, 

178. 

Gane  obowt,  183. 
Gare,  vnder  hyr,  172. 
Gaza,  xx,  xxi,   li,  cviii ;    originals   and 

analogues,  Ixxxv-xc ;  C  text  of,  45- 

49- 

Genitive,  uninflected,  153. 
Gerard  le  filz  Thierry,  xcvii. 
Gerard  Nories  son,  185. 
Gerhard  von  Minden,  cii. 
German  versions,  xxv. 
Gesta   Romanorum,  xxiv,    xxvii,   Ixxix, 

xciv,  xcvi,  xcviii,  170. 
Giovanni,  Ser,  //  Pecorone,  Ixxxvi,  xcvi. 
Goedeke,  K.,  xv,  xxii,  xxiii,  xxxiv. 
Goldsmith,  Oliver,   The  Citizen  of  the 

World,  civ. 
Gollancz,  H.,  xii. 
Goodwin,  G.,  civ. 
Goonetilleke,  W.,  Ixxxvii. 
Gower,  Ixxvii,  xcii,  xcvi,  xcvii,  150,  162. 
Grapignan  ou  Arlequin  procureur,  ciii. 
Greek  version,  see  Syntipas. 
Griffis,   W.  E.,  Japanese  Fairy   World, 

Ixxxiii. 

Griffith,  R.  H.,  viii. 
Grimm,  J.  and  W.,  Ixxx,  cxiii. 
Grisebach,  E.,  ci,  ciii-cv. 
Griibel,  G.  C.,  civ. 
Gueullette,  T.  S.,  cxi. 
Gusztav,  H.,  xxvi. 
Guy  of  Warwick,  157,  162. 

5  graphically  the  same  as  z,  149. 
3^,  interchange  with^^w,  152. 

TSL\istoria  Septem  Sapientum],  xvii, 
xviii,  xxiv-xxvii,  Ixi,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxi, 
Ixxxiii,  Ixxxiv,  xc,  xciv,  ex,  cxii,  150, 
162,  178,  182. 


INDEX 


211 


Hagen,  F.   H.  von  der,   Gesammtaben- 

teuer,  xcv,  xcviii. 

Hahn,  J.  G.  von,  Ixxx,  Ixxxiii,  cxiii. 
Hall,  J.,  Ixvii,  150,  159,  161,  177,  182, 

184. 

Halliwell,  J.  O.,  xxxix,  Ixiii,  152, 162, 169. 
Hamlet,  Ixxxv. 
Hammer,  J.  von,  cxi. 
Hand-haueing,  Ixxiv,  158. 
Hanel,  M.,  cii. 

Harrison,  B.,  Matrona  Ephesia,  civ. 
Haughton,  William,  Ixiii. 
Hazlitt,  W.  C.,  lx,  Ixv. 
Heine,  Rhampsinit,  Ixxxvi. 
Heinrich  von  Veldeke,  Eneide,  xcv. 
Heinse,  W.,  Begebenheiten  des  Enkolp, 

cii. 

Helie,  xxxiv,  li,  149. 
Herber,  157. 
Herbert,  redactor   of   the    Dolopathos, 

xviii— xx. 
Herod,  c. 

Herodotus,  Ixxxvi,  Ixxxviii. 
Hershon,  P.  I.,  civ. 
Hervieux,  L.,  cii. 
Hill,  Richard,  Ivii. 
Him  changed  hew,  185. 
Him  thoght  scorn,  1 5 1 , 
Hippocrates,  160. 
Historia    Calumniae    Novercalis,   xxiv, 

xxvi. 

Historia  Septem  Sapienttim,  see  H. 
Hitopadesa,  Ixxix,  xcii. 
Hock,  C.  F.,  xcv. 
Howard,    Thomas,     The    Seven     Wise 

Mistresses  of  Rome,  Ixxxi. 
Htmdred  Mery  Talys,  A,  cv. 
Huon  of  Bur  deux,  161. 
Hyde,  John,  xxxviii. 

I  ("  Versio  Italica  "),  xxii,  xxviii,  xxix, 

xxxiii. 

Icelandic  MS.  of  H,  xxvi. 
lesse,  152. 
Image  du  Monde,  xcv. 


Imbert,  B.,  cv,  cxi. 

Imperative,  inflection  of,  156. 

Impersonal  verb  with  subject  unex- 
pressed, 151. 

Inaccuracies  in  Weber's  edition  of  A, 
149. 

Inclusa,  xx,  xxiii,  xc ;  originals  and 
analogues,  cix-cxii;  C  text  of,  no- 
127. 

Indian  version  of  Book  of  Sindibdd,  xi. 

Indirect  discourse,  sudden  transition 
from,  to  direct  discourse,  155. 

Infinitive  unexpressed,  157. 

Insertions,  scribal,  in  C,  Ixvii ;  in  R, 
Ixxi. 

Interrelation  of  the  Oriental  versions, 
xii-xv ;  of  the  Continental  versions, 
xx-xxxv ;  of  the  Middle  English 
MSS.,  xl-lvii;  of  later  English  ver- 
sions, Ixi,  Ixii,  Ixvi ;  of  C  and  R,  Ixxi, 
Ixxii. 

Inwith,  152. 

lolo  Manuscripts,  Ixxx. 

Ipomedon,  157,  184. 

Isopo  Laurenziano,  The,  cii. 

It  was  nothing,  1 50. 

Italian  versions,  xxviii,  xxix,  xxxii, 
xxxiii. 

lubarb,  153. 

Jacobs,  Joseph,  Ixxxvi,  xcvii,  ci. 

Jacobus  de  Voragine,  Legenda  Aurea, 
xcvi. 

Jacques  de  Vitry,  Exempla,  cii. 

Janus,  cviii,  180. 

Jataka,  The,  Ixxxiii,  xcix. 

Jenkins,  D.  E.,  Ixxx. 

Joannes  de  Alta  Silva,  xviii-xx. 

Joannes  Junior,  xxiii. 

John  of  Capua,  Directorium  vitae 
humanae,  Ixxix,  xcviii,  xcix. 

John  of  Salisbury,  Polycraticus,  cii. 

Johnson,  Charles,  The  Ephesian  Ma- 
tron, civ. 

Johnston,  O.  M.,  cxi. 


212 


INDEX 


Jones,  E.,  Ixxx. 
Jones,  G.  H.,  xxxiii. 

K  (version  edited  by  Keller),  xv,  xx- 

xxii,  xxvii,  xxviii,  xxxiv,  xxxv. 
Kalde,  me  es  ful,  178. 
Kalila  and  Dimna,  Ixxix,  Ixxxiii,  c. 
Kaluza,  M.,  182. 
Kanor,  xxx. 
Kathd-Sarit-Sdgara,  Ixxix,    Ixxxiii, 

Ixxxvii. 
Keller,   H.   A.,  xv,   xx,  xxv,  xxvii,  Ixi, 

Ixxviii,  Ixxxv,  xc,  xci,  xciii,  xciv,  xcvii, 

ci,  cv,  cix,  cxi,  cxii. 
Kiddushin,  Tosiphtaoth  to,  civ. 
Kin-kou-ki-kouan,  civ,  cvii. 
Kirchhof,  H.  W.,  Wendunmuth,  Ixxix, 

cv. 

Kirkman,  F.,  xxix. 
Kitdb-es-Sindbdd,  xv. 
Kittredge,  G.  L.,  vii,  viii,  Ixxvii,  Ixxviii, 

Ixxix,  Ixxxv,  150,  151,  155,  157,  158, 

1 60,  167,  1 68,  179. 
Klemming,  G.  E.,  xxv,  xxxiii. 
Klingemann,  A.,  Die  Wittwe  von  Ephe- 

sus,  ciii. 
Knight  de  la  Tour  Landry,  The  Book  of 

the,  xcix. 

Knowles,  J.  H.,  Ixxx. 
Kohler,  R.,  xviii,  Ixxxv,  Ixxxvii,  ci,  cxii. 
Kolbing,  E.,  v,  vii,  xxxvii,  xxxix,  xlii, 

Ivii,  150,  151,  157,  175,  176. 
Kunala  and  A£oka,  story  of,  xi. 

L  (group  of  MSS.  of  the  type  of  the  first 

text    edited   by    Leroux   de    Lincy), 

xxiii,  xxxi,  xxxiv,  xxxv. 
La  Fontaine,  J.  de,  Contes  et  Nouvelles 

en  Vers,  ciii. 
La  Marche,  A.  L.  de,  cii. 
La   Motte,    Houdart  de,    La   Matrone 

(fEphese,  ciii. 
Laing,  D.,  xl,  Ixii,  civ. 
Lai  Behari  Day,  Ixxxviii. 
Landau,  M.,  xv,  xvii,  Ixxxix,  xc,  xcii. 


Lane,  John,  xcvi. 

Largeau,  V.,  Flore  Saharienne,  Ixxxvii. 

Lat  we  be,  154. 

Later  English  versions,  Ix-lxvi. 

Latin  MSS.,  xviii,  xix,  xxii-xxviii. 

Laurin  (or  Fiseus),  xxx. 

Le  Gay,  La  Matrone  d'Ephtse,  ciii. 

Leger,  L.,  Ixxxvii. 

Legrand,  E\,  Ixxxvi,  civ. 

Legrand   d'Aussy,  P.  J.   B.,  Ixxix,  xc, 

xciii,  ex. 

Leland,  C.  G.,  xcvi. 
Lentilioune,  151. 
Lerch,  P.,  xxvi,  civ. 
Lered,  scribal  error  for  fered,  178. 
Leroux  de  Lincy,  A.  J.  V.,  xxiii,  xxx, 

xxxii. 

Leskien  and  Brugmann,  Ixxxviii. 
Lessing,  G.  E.,  Die  Matrone  von  Ephe- 

stis,  ciii. 

L'Estrange,  R.,  Ixxix. 
Liber  de  Septem  Sapientibus,  xxiii. 
Libra  de  los  Engannos,  xiii,  xvi. 
Libra  imperiale,  xcvi. 
Lidzbarski,  M.,  Ixxxvii,  cxi. 
Liebrecht,  F.,  Ixxxvii,  Ixxxix. 
Liking  sted,  in,  1 66. 
Lines   repeated  in  C,   149;  too  short, 

Ixxvii,  151,  156,  178,  179. 
Lithuanian  text  of  H,  xxi. 
Llewelyn,  xxxiii. 
Llyfr  Coch  a  Hergist,  xxxiii. 
Lohengrin,  xx. 

Lonelich,  H.,  Holy  Grail,  160. 
Longfellow,  Morituri  Salutamus,  xcv. 
Lonnrot,  E.,  Ixxx. 
Lost  MSS.,  xi,  xiv,  xv,  xxiii,  xxxiv,  xli, 

Ixxii. 

Lucinitis,  xx. 

Ltidus  Septem  Sapientum,  xxv. 
Luzel,  F.  M.,  Ixxxvii,  cxiii. 
Lydgate,  John,  Bochas,  xcv. 

M  \ale  Marrastre~\,  xxii,  xxix,  xxx. 
Macaulay,  G.  C.,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  162. 


INDEX 


213 


Macler,  F.,  xii. 
Madan,  F.,  Ixx. 
Mahdvastu  Avaddna,  Ixxxiii. 
Male  Marrastre,  see  M. 
Malespini,  C.,  Ducente  Novelle,  cxi. 
Malquidras,  151. 
Manfredi,  E.,  ciii. 
Marguetel  de  St.  Denis,  ciii. 
Marie  de  France,  cii,  ciii,  cxi,  179. 
Marques  de  Rome,  xxi,  xxx,  xxxiv. 
Massmann,  H.  F.,  xciv,  xcv,  xcvi. 
Masuccio,  S.,  Novellino,  xcii,  cxi. 
Masudi,  xv. 

Matheolus,  Le  Livre  de,  cii. 
Matron  of  Ephesus,  The,  ci-cviii. 
Maxencius,  152. 
Maxwell,  W.  E.,  Ixxx. 
Me  think,  154. 

Mead,  W.  E.,  vii,  158,  161,  165. 
Medicus,    xliii,    li ;    originals    and   ana- 
logues,  Ixxxiv,    Ixxxv;    C   text    of, 

38-43- 

Meir,  Rabbi,  civ. 

Melchior,  151. 

Mercator,  xxxiii. 

Meril,  E.  du,  xciv. 

Merlin,  xciv,  xcvi,  c,  ci,  175,  176. 

Meter  of  English  MSS.,  xxxviii-xl,  lix, 
Ixii,  Ixxvi,  Ixxvii,  151,  153. 

Meyer,  P.,  xxviii,  xxxi. 

Middle  English  MSS.,  brief  descrip- 
tion, xxxvi-xl ;  interrelation,  xl-lvii ; 
authorship,  Ivii,  Iviii ;  place  and  date 
of  composition,  Iviii,  lix  :  source,  lix  ; 
the  Cotton-Rawlinson  redaction,  Ixvi- 
Ixxvii. 

Milicent,  xxxiv,  li,  149. 

Milton,  John,  163. 

Minot,  L.,  161. 

Mirabilia  urbis  Romae,  xcvi. 

Mischle  Sindbad,  xi-xiii,  xvi,  xvii. 

Moliere,  George  Dandin,  xci. 

Montaiglon,  A.  de,  and  Raynaud,  G., 
cii. 

Morlini,  G.,  Novellae,  cviii. 


Morris,  R.,  v,  Ixvii,  150,  171. 

Murko,  M.,  xxvi. 

Musa,  xi,  xiii,  xiv,  xvi. 

Musaeus,  J.  A.,  cv. 

Mussafia,   A.,  xviii,    xxii,   xxiii,    xxviii, 

xxxi. 
Musset,  A.  de,  La  Coupe  et  les  Levres, 

civ. 
Myll,  G.,  Buke  of  Ltif,  civ. 

Nachshebi,  xiv,  xix. 

Napier,  A.  S.,  vi,  Ixx. 

Nathing  brown,  151. 

Navern,  161. 

Neckam,  Alexander,  xciv,  xcvi,  cix,  170. 

Neght,  scribal  error  for  negh,  175. 

Neveletus,  I.  I.,  cii. 

No,  167. 

Noldeke,  T.,  xii,  Ixxxvi. 

North,  T.,  xcviii. 

Northern  words,  Ixxv,  Ixxvi,  185. 

Noverca,  xxiii,  xxxi,  xxxii,  xxxiv,  xxxv. 

Nyrop,  C.,  Ixxxvii. 

Octavian,  150,  162. 

QLillets  de  recreations,  cxi. 

Oesterley,  H.,  xviii,  xix,  Ixxviii,  xc,  xci, 

xciv,  xcvi,  cv. 
Ogilby,   John,    The  Ephesian  Matron, 

civ. 

Onnence,  167. 
Order  of   stories,   xxviii,    xxxi,    xxxiii, 

xxxiv. 

Originals  and  analogues,  Ixxviii-cxiv. 
Orologium  Sapientiae,  Ixi. 
Oj>er  spell,  hir  liked  noght  his,  166. 

Painter,   W.,    The  Palace  of  Pleasure, 

Ixxxvi. 

Panjab  Notes  and  Queries,  Ixxx. 
Pantschatantra,  Ixxix,  Ixxxiii,  cviii. 
Parallel  passages  in  D  and  A,  lii-liv ;  in 

As  and  C,  Ivi,  Ivii. 
Paris,  Gaston,  xv,  xvi,  xviii-xx,  xxii,  xxiii, 

xxvi,  xxvii,  xxx,  xxxi,  Ixii,  cviii,  cix. 


214 


INDEX 


Participle,  present,  ending  of,  in  C  and 

R,  Ixxiv,  Ixxv. 
Paschke,  P.,  xxv. 
Past  Days  in  India,  Ixxx. 
Paton,  L.  A.,  cxi. 
Pauli,    J.,   Schimpf  und  Ernst,   Ixxix, 

xci. 

Pausanias,  Ixxix,  Ixxxvi. 
Payne,  J.,  ex. 
Pay  re,  172. 
Paz  y  Melia,  A.,  xxiii. 
Peck,  H.  T.,  ci. 
Pedroso,  Z.  C.,  Ixxxvii. 
Pelearmenus,  xxx. 
Percy,  Thomas,  cii,  civ,  cv. 
Periers,  Bonaventure  des,  xciii. 
Perottus,  N.,  cii. 
Persian  versions,  see  Aban  Lahiqi,  As- 

Samarquandl,  Azraqi,  Nachshebi,  and 

Sindibdd-ndm  eh . 
Pesikta  des  Rab  Kahana,  Ixxx. 
Petras,  Paul,  xxxix,  xlii,  li,  lix,  Ixii. 
Petronius  Arbiter,  Satyricon,  cii,  cv. 
Petrus  Alphonsus,  Disciplina  Clericalis, 

xc,  xcviii. 

Phaedrus,  sEsop,  cii,  cv. 
Philip  de  Thaun,  Li  Cumpoz,  cviii. 
Pieris,  H.  A.,  Ixxx. 
Pine-appel  tre,  1 56. 
Pinson,  R.,  Ixvi. 
Pitre,  G.,  Ixxxvi,  cxi. 
Place  of  composition  of  parent  version, 

xi ;  of  parent  Western  version,  xviii ; 

of  Middle  English  MSS.,  Iviii. 
Platen,  A.  von,  Ixxxvii,  cxi. 
Plautus,  Miles  Gloriosus,  ex. 
Plecie,  185. 

Pleonastic  pronoun,  152. 
Plomp,  H.  P.  B.,  xxxii,  lix. 
Polish  translation  of  H,  xxvi. 
Pontianus,  xxiv,  xxvi. 
Popple,  W.,  The  Ephesian  Matron,  civ. 
Porus,  King,  xii. 
Potiphar's  wife  and  Joseph,  155. 
Prato,  S.,  Ixxxv,  Ixxxvi,  Ixxxvii. 


Present  indicative,  inflection   of,  Ixxv, 

153- 

Preterite  substituted  for  present,  152. 
Preue  note,  litel  J>ai  mai  of,  166. 
Prevost,  Abbe,  xciv. 
Pricke  of  Conscience,  Ixxvii,  168,  179, 

185. 

Prime,  154. 
Prince,  name  of  the,  xx,  xxii,  xxiii,  xxvii, 

xxviii,  xxix,  xxxiii,  xxxiv,  150. 
Proces,  156. 
Prohle,  H.,  Ixxxvii. 
Prolong,  163. 
Prym  and  Socin,  Ixxxvii. 
Punctuation  in  C,  Ixx. 
Purfoot,  T.,  Ixv,  Ixvi. 
Puruay,  184. 
Puteus,  xix,  xx,  xlix,  cix ;  originals  and 

analogues,  xc,  xci;  C  text  of,  51-56. 

R[awlinson]  MS.,  vi,  xxxvii,  xliii,  Ixx- 
Ixxvi. 

r,  curled,  Ixix,  Ixxi,  149,  150,  155. 

Radet,  J.  B.,  La  Matrone  d'Ephese,  ciii. 

Radloff,  W.,  Ixxxvii,  cviii,  cxiii. 

Rahbek,  K.  L.,  ciii. 

Rajna,  P.,  xxviii. 

Ralston,  W.  R.  S.,  Ixxxvii,  cxiii. 

Rama  Ayen,  C.,  Ixxx. 

Rawlinson,  R.,  Ixx. 

Rawlinson  MS.  of  The  Seven  Sages, 
see  R. 

Reference,  faulty,  158. 

Relationship  of  C  and  R,  Ixxi,  Ixxii ;  see 
also  Interrelation  of  the  Oriental  ver- 
sions, etc. 

Relative  omitted,  160. 

Renars  Contrefais,  xcvi. 

Rhymes,  imperfect,  153. 

Riotous  Son,  The,  xlix,  164,  165. 

Ritson,  J.,  Iviii,  Ixi,  Ixvii. 

Rivey,  P.  de  la,  xcix. 

Riviere,  J.,  Ixxxvii. 

Robert,  A.  C.  M.,  cii. 

Rodeffer,  J.  D.,  153,  156,  168,  171. 


INDEX 


215 


Roediger,  M.,  xxviii. 

Holland,  John,  xxiv,  xxxvi,  Ixii. 

Rolle  of  Hampole,  R.,  Iviii,  171. 

Roma,  xxiii,  xxvi,  xxvii,  xl,  xlvi,  li ;  orig- 
inals and  analogues,  cviii,  cix ;  C  text 
of,  104-108. 

Romagnoli,  G.,  xxviii. 

Romulus,  ^.sop,  cii,  179. 

Rosing,  152. 

Roth,  K.  L.,  xciv. 

Rouse,  W.  H.  D.,  Ixxxiii,  xcix. 

Route  of  transmission  to  the  Occident, 
xvii. 

Rubrics  in  C,  Ixviii,  Ixix ;  in  R,  Ixxi. 

S  (version  preserved  in  the  Scala  Celt), 

xxii— xxiv,  xxxi,  xxxiv. 
Sahara,  J.,  civ. 
Sachs,  Hans,  Ixxxvii,  xci. 
Safe  g  our e  grace,  to,  158. 
Sages,  names  of  the,  xii,  xx,  xxii,  xxiii, 

xxix,  xxxiii,  xxxiv,  Iv,  151. 
Salvatio  Romae,  xciv,  xcvi,  xcvii,  cix, 

170. 
Sansovino,    A.,     Cento   Novelle    Scelte, 

Ixxix,    Ixxxv,    Ixxxvi,    Ixxxviii,    xcvi, 

cxi,   cxii. 

Sapientes,  xlix,  li;    originals    and   ana- 
logues, c,  ci ;  C  text  of,  88-95. 
Saxo  Grammaticus,  Ixxxv. 
Scala  Celi,  xxiii. 
Scene  of  the  action  of  The  Seven  Sages, 

xxvii,  xxxi,  149. 
Schiefner,  A.,  Ixxxv,  Ixxxvii. 
Schipper,  J.,  xxxix. 
Schleich,  G.,  Ixvii. 
Schmidt,  F.,  civ. 
Schmirgel,  C.,  vii,  154. 
Schmitz,  J.,  xxv. 
Schofield,  W.  H.,  155. 
Scotti,  C.  G.,  ciii. 

Scribal  errors  in  C,  Ixviii ;  in  R,  Ixxi. 
Searles,  C.,  ex. 
Seelig,  F.,  xxv. 
Seith  Doethon  Ruvein,  xxxiii. 


Senescalcus,  xv,  xx,  xxvi,  xxviii,  xlix; 
originals  and  analogues,  xci-xciii;  C 
text  of,  58-62. 

Sept  Sages  de  Rome,  Les,  see  Seven 
Sages  of  Rome. 

Sercambi,  G.,  Novelle,  ciii,  cxi. 

Series,  177. 

Seven  Sages  of  Greece,  The,  Ix. 

Seven  Sages  of  Rome,  The,  Oriental  ver- 
sions, xi-xv ;  transmission  to  Western 
Europe,  xv-xvii ;  European  versions 
other  than  English,  xvii-xxxv ;  Eng- 
lish versions,  xxxv-lxxvii. 

Seven  Vezirs,  xiv,  xvi. 

Seven  Wise  Masters  of  Rome,  The,  see 
Seven  Sages  of  Rome, 

Seven  Wise  Mistresses  of  Rome,  The, 
Ixiv,  Ixxxi. 

Shied,  scribal  error  for  cried,  177. 

Sindban,  xii,  xiii. 

Sindibad,  the  sage,  xii,  xv,  xix. 

Sindibdd-ndmeh,  xii,  xiv. 

Skeat,  W.  W.,  xxxix,  xcix,  152,  154, 
155,  158,  161,  172. 

So  it  bifel  opon  a  day,  157. 

So  mot  I  the,  157. 

Socin  and  Stumme,  Ixxxvii. 

Somigli,  D.,  ciii. 

S  or  owl,  with,  160. 

Source  of  Oriental  versions,  xi;  of 
parent  Western  version,  xvi,  xvii ;  of 
other  Continental  versions,  xxi,  xxiii, 
xxiv,  xxvii,  xxix,  xxx,  xxxiii-xxxv ;  of 
the  Middle  English  versions,  lix;  of 
later  English  versions,  Ixi,  Ixii,  Ixvi. 

Spanish  MSS.  and  editions,  xiii,  xxiii, 
xxv. 

Spelling,  peculiarities  of,  in  C,  Ixix,  Ixx ; 
in  R,  Ixxi. 

Spencer,  W.  R.,  Ixxx. 

Spenser,  Edmund,  Faerie  Queene,  xcvi. 

Squire  and  his  Borrow,  The,  xlix,  1 69. 

Squires,  Dr.,  v. 

Stallaert,  K.,  xxxiii. 

Steinhowel,  H.,  Fabulae  Esopi,  cii. 


216 


INDEX 


Stent,  G.  C.,  The  Jade  Chaplet,  civ. 
Stepmother,  the  wicked,  xii,  xx,  xxix, 

xxxiv. 
Steward,   the    covetous,   in    mediaeval 

story,  165. 

Storia  di  Stefano,  xxviii. 
Storia  d'una  Crudele  Matrigna,  xxviii. 
Storia  favolosa  di  Stefano,  xxxii. 
Stories,  number  of,  xii,  xv,  xxi;  order 

of,   xxi,  xxxiii-xxxv,  xlix,  lix;    table 

of,  xxxv. 

Straparola,  Nights,  Ixxxviii. 
Stulpes,  158. 
Sulzbach,  A.,  civ. 
Summa  Recreatorum,  xxiii. 
Suttner,  A.  von,  Ixxxvii. 
Swedish  versions,  xxv,  xxxiii. 
Syntipas,  xii,  xiii,  xvi. 
Syriac  version,  see  Sindban. 

T  [ours],  G.  C.  D[e],  Les  Facetievses 
iovrnees,  Ixxix,  Ixxxv,  xcvi,  xcix,  cxi, 
cxii. 

Table,  comparative,  of  lines  and  rhymes 
in  the  Middle  English  MSS.,  xl,  xii; 
of  stories,  xxxv  ;  of  abbreviations,  148. 

Taylor,  Jeremy,  Holy  Dying,  civ. 

Teluccini,  Maria,  xxix. 

Tendlau,  A.  M.,  civ. 

Tentamina,  xlix ;  originals  and  ana- 
logues, xciii,  xciv  ;  C  text  of,  64-73. 

Teza,  E.,  xiv. 

Thar,  178. 

Thesis,  initial,  wanting,  Ixxvi;  dissyl- 
labic, Ixxvi,  155. 

Thorns,  W.  J.,  xciv. 

Thoresby  Collection,  Ixx. 

Thrid  time  thraives  best,  />e,  168. 

Thrinfalde,  168. 

Ticknor,  F.  O.,  Ixxx. 

Toeppen,  M.,  cxiii. 

Toise,  xxxi. 

Tome,  149. 

Transmission  to  Western  Europe,  xv- 
xvii. 


Trestes,  185. 

Triller,  D.  W.,  ciii. 

Trimberg,  Hugo  von,  Der  Rentier,  xci. 

Tupper,  F.,  Jr.,  154. 

Tuppo,  F.  del,  Esopo,  ciii. 

Tuti-ndmeh,  xiv,  xcviii. 

Twain,  Mark,  Ixxx. 

Typical  expressions,  150. 

Tyrwhitt,  T.,  Ixvii. 

£>,  interchange  of,  with  th,  150. 
fiou,  interchange  of,  with  <^,  152. 

Unverified     analogues,     Ixxx,     Ixxxiii, 
Ixxxvii,    xci,    xciv,    ciii-cv. 

V  (hypothetical  source  of  K  and  D*), 

xxvii,  xxx,  xxxiv. 

Varnhagen,  H.,  v,  xxxii,  xxxiii,  xl,  xc. 
Vasavadatta,  cxi. 
Vaticinium,  xxvi,    li,  Ixxxiii ;    originals 

and  analogues,  cxii-cxiv  ;  C  text  of, 

129-142. 
Vega,  Lope  de,  El pronostico  cumplido, 

cxii. 

Veriphantor,  civ. 
"  Versio  Italica,"  see  I. 
"  Version  Derimee,"  see  D*. 
Veufve  de  Petrone,  La,  ciii. 
Vice,  158. 
Vidua,  xl,  xlix ;  originals  and  analogues, 

ci-cviii;  C  text  of,  96-104. 
Vinaya  Pitaka,  Ixxix. 
Vincent  of  Beauvais,  xciv,  xcvi. 
Virgil,  xix,  xxi,  xciv,  152. 
Virgilius,  xlix,  li,  lix,   166,   170;  origi' 

nals  and  analogues,  xciv-xcvii ;  C  text 

of,  74-80. 

Virgilius,  romance  of,  xcv,  xcvi. 
Visentini,  I.,  cxiii. 
Vnderon,  154. 
Vnhid,  154. 

Vogl,  J.,  Ixxx,  Ixxxiii,  c, 
Voltaire,  Zadig,  civ. 


INDEX 


w  instead  of  wk,  150. 

Wa,  hir  frendes  was  ful,  177. 

Walter    of    England,    JEsop,    cii,   ciii, 

179. 

Wane,  181. 

Ward,  H.  L.  D.,  xix,  xxxviii,  Ixvii. 
Wardrop,  M.,  Ixxxvii. 
Warren,  F.  M.,  xvi. 
Was  used  with  plural  subject,  156. 
Wath,  185. 
Weber,  H.,  v,  xxxvii,  149,  152, 156, 162, 

182,  184,  185. 
Webster,  W.,  cxiii. 
Weisse,  C.  F.,  Die  Matrone  von  Ephe- 

sus,  ciii. 
Welsh  version,  xxxiii,  ci,  149,  154, 165, 

175,  176,  179,  180. 
•wh  instead  of  w,  1 50. 
Whannow,  159. 
Wildt,  Sebastian,  dramatic  version  of 

H,  xxv. 
William  of  Malmesbury,  Chronicle,  xcv, 

162. 
Williams,  R.,  xxxiii. 


Windsor,  P.  L.,  viii. 
Wolf,  J.  W.,  Ixxxvii. 
Won,  153. 
Wont,  163. 

"  Wormond,  Raphe,"  Ixx. 
Wright,  T.,  xxxix,  li,  cii. 
Wiistenfeld,  F.,  xcvi. 
Wybe,  Von  eynem  bb'zen,  xci. 
Wynkyn  de  Worde  edition,  xxi,  xxiv, 
xxxvi,  Ix-lxii,  Ixvi. 

x,  hypothetical  source  of  y  and  D,  xli, 
Iv,  lix. 

Y,   group    of    Middle    English    MSS. 

derived  from  y,  xl-xliv,  xlviii,  Iv. 
y,  hypothetical  source  of  Y,  xli,  xliii, 

xlv-xlvii,  Iv,  lix. 
Ypocrase,  160. 

Zambrini,  F.  S.,  ciii. 
Zingerle,  I.  and  J.,  Ixxxvii. 
Zschorke,  H.,  Peter  Rothbart,  xci. 
Zuccho,  A.,  Esopo,  ciii. 
Zupitza,  J.,  157,  158,  162,  177- 


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